CHURCH COMMISSIONERS

Clergy

Ben Chapman: To ask the honourable Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners what plans there are to establish clergy on civil service terms.

Stuart Bell: The Archbishops' Council, acting as the Church of England's Central Stipends Authority, bases its recommendations for maternity and paternity provision and long term sick leave for parish clergy upon civil service terms and conditions. Most of the (relatively few) anglican clergy directly employed by the Council or by diocesan offices will also be on civil service terms.
	On the wider question of future options in respect of clergy employment rights I refer the hon .Member to my answers earlier this month.

Statutory Employment Rights

Ben Chapman: To ask the honourable Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners 
	(1)  if he will make a statement on the timetable for the Commissioners' response to the DTI's discussion document on Employment Status in relation to Statutory Employment Rights;
	(2)  how many people whose salaries are paid by Church funds are not covered by employment legislation;
	(3)  what the terms of reference of the working group on clergy employment arrangements established by the Archbishops' Council are, and who the members are;
	(4)  if he would make a statement on the Archbishops' Council's announcement of 10th December on clergy employment.rights

Stuart Bell: The Archbishops' Council has responded to the DTI's discussion document on Employment Status in relation to Statutory Employment Rights. A copy of the response has been placed in the Library, along with the terms of reference and membership of the working group, and I am happy to provide the hon. Gentleman with his own copy.
	From this he will note that there are approximately 9,000 clergy on the central payroll not covered by employment legislation, of which 5,500 have the freehold (and thus have greater employment security than most employees) and 3,500 operate under a bishop's licence (and have less).

CABINET OFFICE

Contingency Planning

Tom Brake: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what discussions his Department has had with the Local Government Association and Emergency Planning Society regarding funding levels for emergency planning.

Douglas Alexander: Government provides funding for emergency planning in local authorities in England and Wales through the civil defence grant. The Government determines that level at which the grant is set. The LGA were involved in discussions earlier this year on how the grant should be allocated to local authorities.

Contingency Planning

Tom Brake: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the principal and common medium is for effective and secure communication between emergency services involved in contingency provision, with particular reference to when more than one major geographical area of England is involved.

Douglas Alexander: The PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) is the principal common medium for communication between emergency services throughout the UK. Encrypted telephone instruments are available, for use with the PSTN, to provide secure communication.

Contingency Planning

Tom Brake: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what arrangements are in place to ensure that emergency services are able to efficiently and effectively liaise and work together in the event of a major civil disaster; and what common training and instructions exist to ensure that emergency services are able to efficiently work and communicate together in such an event.

Douglas Alexander: The Government's XDealing with Disaster" (3rd Edition) sets out core guidance for all emergency services in achieving a co-ordinated response in the event of a major incident or disaster. The emergency procedures manuals of the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), the Chief and Assistant Chief Fire Officers Association (CACFOA) and the Ambulance Services Association (ASA) all contain guidance on the management of emergencies.
	Because of the lead role of the police in co-ordinating the emergency services response to major incidents, the ACPO guidance sets out, in detail, the relationships and working arrangements between all of the emergency services in responding to a major incident. These arrangements are jointly exercised against different scenarios.
	The emergency services each have an emergency procedures sub-committee, which meets regularly to ensure that they abide by best practice in co-ordinating responses.
	Apart from their own individual service training and exercise schedules, the emergency services regularly run joint exercises both to train for and to validate their joint response arrangements, especially command, control, and communications. The Cabinet Office Emergency Planning College regularly hosts and runs multi-agency major incident management events. For specific scenario exercising and training, such as those around chemical plants, civil nuclear power stations and major transport arrangements (by rail, sea and air), scenario-based multi-agency exercises are regularly carried out (often as a requirement under licensing regulations). Post Exercise Reports are regularly lodged, for wider dissemination and information, at the Emergency Planning College.

Government Car Service

Andrew Selous: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many cars manufactured outside the United Kingdom are used by the Government car service, broken down by manufacturer.

Douglas Alexander: Responsibility for the provision of ministerial cars and drivers has been delegated under the terms of the framework document to the Government Car Despatch Agency. I have asked its Chief Executive, Mr. Nick Matheson, to write to the hon. Member.

WALES

Christmas Expenses

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales 
	(1)  how many departmental Christmas cards he and his Ministers intend to send in 2002; how much these cards will cost (a) to buy, (b) to post and (c) in staff time to sign, address and place in envelopes; and if he will place in the Library a sample copy of the official Christmas card he has sent this year;
	(2)  how much will be spent on (a) entertaining, (b) Christmas decorations and (c) other festive activities this Christmas season by his Department and government agencies answerable to his Department; and of this sum how much will be spent in Ministers' (i) private offices and (ii) official residences.

Peter Hain: I anticipate sending some 600 Christmas cards; my ministerial colleague expects to send up to 500. The total cost of printing these cards is expected to be some #484, postage will be payable on many but not all. It is not possible to accurately measure the staff time involved in issuing them.
	I am placing a sample of my card in the Library.
	My Department has spent #15 on hosting a party for XDaffodil Kids"—an organisation which provides outings for seriously ill Welsh children.
	Other than these, there has been no cost to the public purse arising from Christmas entertaining, decorating, or related festive activities this year.
	My Department has no agencies and I have no official residence.

Cockle Industry (Burry Inlet)

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received in relation to the cockle industry in the Burry Inlet.

Peter Hain: None. However, my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary has received representations from hon. Members representing affected areas of the cockle industry in Wales. These include the Burry Inlet. I am aware that the fishery has been closed for many months during the past two years, following an outbreak of Diarrhetic Shellfish Poisoning (DSP) in cockles. I understand that the fishery is open at the moment.
	I understand that the National Assembly for Wales, which has responsibility for fisheries issues, is working with the Food Standards Agency, with the Environment Agency and with Carmarthen and Swansea unitary authorities, to identify the causes of the outbreak, and to agree possible solutions.
	I am also advised that the National Assembly for Wales is in the final stages of negotiations with the European Commission about state aids clearance for a compensation scheme for cockle gatherers who have suffered financial hardship because of the closure of the fishery.

Spending Review

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list for his Department (a) those Comprehensive Spending Review 1998 targets that were outstanding at the time of the statement on the Comprehensive Spending Review 2002, (b) progress on such targets since then and (c) the expected date when targets not yet achieved will be met.

Peter Hain: holding answer 17 December 2002
	The creation of the National Assembly for Wales in July 1999 means that any extant 1998 targets will now lie with the Assembly rather than with my Department.

Statutory Instruments

Patsy Calton: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many Statutory Instruments subject to negative procedure made by his Department (a) came into force and (b) were considered by a delegated legislation committee in each of the last three sessions.

Peter Hain: The number of negative resolution statutory instruments made solely by my Department in each of the last three Sessions is as follows:
	
		
			 Session Number 
		
		
			 1999–2000 1 
			 2000–01 2 
			 2001–02 1 
		
	
	These statutory instruments were considered by the Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments but no points were raised. My Department is also responsible for drafting Orders in Council relating to Wales, some of which may be subject to negative resolution procedure.

MINISTER FOR WOMEN

Transsexual People

Ben Chapman: To ask the Minister for Women what her policy is on including the treatment of transsexuals who are now women within her Department's work.

Patricia Hewitt: The treatment of transsexual people under the Sex Discrimination Act 1975 is already part of the Department of Trade and Industry's responsibilities. The Sex Discrimination Act (Gender Reassignment) Regulations 1999 amended the 1975 Act to protect people intending to undergo, undergoing, or who have undergone gender reassignment from discrimination at work and in vocational training.
	The part of the Department with responsibility for these Regulations is the Women and Equality Unit. The wider issue of the legal status of transsexual people is the lead responsibility of the Lord Chancellor's Department.

DEFENCE

Accident Inquiries

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer of 5 December 2002, Official Report, column 926W, on accident inquiries, whether his Department records the results of boards of inquiry; how many boards of inquiry have been held by his Department in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: The results of boards of inquiry are recorded by the authority that convenes the board, but there are no central records.
	I refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave him on 25 November 2002, Official Report, column 1W, and 5 December 2002, Official Report, column 926W. The information concerning the number of boards of inquiry in the Ministry of Defence is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate costs.

Accident Inquiries

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many accidents in each of the last five years in which damage was done to MOD property or equipment cost over #100,000 to repair; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: I refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave him on 25 November 2002, Official Report, column 1W, and 5 December 2002, Official Report, column 926W. Information concerning the number of accidents involving Ministry of Defence property and equipment that have cost over #100,000 to repair is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate costs.

Alcohol/Drug Misuse

Frank Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he is taking to reduce (a) alcohol and (b) drug misuse in the armed forces.

Lewis Moonie: The armed forces employ vigorous education programmes-including pamphlets, films and lectures-at all stages of military training and service to ensure that personnel are aware of the dangers of alcohol and drug misuse. The programmes are regularly reviewed and updated as necessary, and are complemented by administrative and disciplinary measures to deter misuse.

Defence Procurement

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the total expenditure on defence procurement was for the last year in which figures are available; and how much of it was spent in Scotland.

Lewis Moonie: In 2000–01 (the latest year for which published figures are available) procurement expenditure was estimated to be #10,408 million (Table 1.7 UK Defence Statistics, a copy of which is available in the Library of the House, refers). Of this approximately #2,800 million was for the sum of associated costs, intramural research and development spending, overseas equipment expenditure and unrecoverable VAT. The balance, which represents estimated equipment expenditure with United Kingdom industry and commerce, is some #7,600 million. It is not possible to provide a regional breakdown from data available. All of these figures exclude Ministry of Defence non-equipment expenditure on items such as fuel, utilities and some support activities.

Iraq

Colin Breed: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what contingency plans he has for emergency medical procedures being carried out in the field to troops encountering (a) biological and (b) chemical weapons in Iraq in the event of a war; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: holding answer 10 December 2002
	No decisions have yet been made concerning military action against Iraq.
	Members of the United Kingdom armed forces are afforded a range of countermeasures which would help protect them against the adverse health effects of chemical and biological weapons. These include physical protection, vaccines and antibiotics against biological agents, and nerve agent pre-treatment sets and Combopen injectors against chemical agents.
	Procedures exist for the medical treatment and, if necessary, evacuation of personnel in the event of exposure, or possible exposure, to chemical or biological agents.

Legal Fees

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department has (a) spent on legal fees as a result of cases brought against his Department, (b) paid out in out of court settlements and (c) paid out in court-ordered compensation in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: The amount spent on legal fees as a result of cases brought against the Ministry of Defence is not recorded separately for the years in question and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	The amounts paid in out of court settlements and in court-ordered payments are not recorded separately, but the total amounts paid in compensation and legal costs in both categories for the last five years were:
	
		# million 
		
			 Financial year Amount paid  
		
		
			 1997–98 69.22 
			 1998–99 75.20 
			 1999–2000 75.57 
			 2000–01 87.53 
			 2001–02 91.26

Military Bases

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer of 5 December 2002, Official Report, column 930W, on military bases (legal officers), what welfare and support services there are separate from the chain of command offered to members of the armed forces by his Department; what legal advice is available for members of the armed forces through the range of welfare and support services separate from the chain of command offered by his Department; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: Welfare and support services available to service personnel on military bases include chaplains, medical officers, unit welfare officers and agencies such as SSAFA—Forces Help, RELATE and WRVS. A confidential helpline is also available. These services enjoy varying degrees of separateness or independence from the chain of command. All have appropriate rules of confidentiality.
	None of the welfare services provide legal advice per se. However, they may advise an individual to seek independent legal advice where it is felt appropriate. Any service person who is interviewed in connection with a possible offence may make use of the duty solicitor scheme.

Military Training

Martin Caton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of the enforcement of preventing public access on byelawed land when military training takes place.

Lewis Moonie: Every training area and range affected by military byelaws is subject to a risk assessment in accordance with the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999. This risk assessment considers the hazard to the general public if they should enter a byelawed training area or range in error or with intent. Various control measures, which can include signing, flagging or local notification, are then implemented in light of the risk assessment. We are satisfied with the effectiveness of these arrangements.

Nuclear Weapons Tests

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on progress in the clean-up and environmental restoration of the contamination caused by nuclear weapons testing on Christmas Island since 1992.

Lewis Moonie: The Ministry of Defence arranged and took part in a specialist Reconnaissance Survey to Kiritimati during September 1998. This was to identify the types and quantities of waste materials, including an assessment of environmental risks associated with the nuclear test programme in the late 1950s and early 1960s.
	A further visit was made to Kiritimati in August 2000 by MOD and independent specialists to gather further detailed information for the proposed clean-up project.
	The clean-up of the waste material is to be undertaken by contractors appointed and managed by specialists from the MOD. Preparatory work is currently under way with the actual clean-up work on site expected to start during 2003.

LORD CHANCELLOR

Adulterated Food

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, how many successful prosecutions have been brought since 1997 against persons who have doctored and sold on to retailers adulterated food which is unfit for human consumption; what the (a) average length of imprisonment and (b) fine levied was; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: I have been asked to reply.
	The available information is given in the table.
	
		Defendants proceeded against at magistrates' courts and found guilty and sentenced at all courts for certain offences under the Food Safety Act 1990, England and Wales 1997–2001
		
			 Offence Statute Year Proceeded against Found guilty Fine Average fine amount (#) Immediate custody Average custody length (months) 
		
		
			 Rendering food injurious to health Food Safety Act 1990, section 7 1997 7 7 6 325 — — 
			   1998 5 5 5 760 — — 
			   1999 5 5 5 1,260 — — 
			   (1)2000 2 1 — — — — 
			   2001 — — — — — — 
			 Selling food not complying with food safety requirements Ibid, section 8 1997 170 111 106 1,150 — — 
			   1998 144 112 99 1,400 2 3.5 
			   1999 107 70 65 2,107 — — 
			   (1)2000 76 58 55 1,592 — — 
			   2001 92 64 61 4,083 — — 
			 Selling food not of the nature or substance or quality demanded Ibid, section 14 1997 122 90 81 1,071 — — 
			   1998 131 95 84 1,127 — — 
			   1999 82 63 60 1,194 — — 
			   (1)2000 66 47 46 1,046 — — 
			   2001 39 31 25 2,168 — — 
			 Falsely describing or presenting food Ibid, section 15 1997 50 36 28 812   
			   1998 73 59 47 649 — — 
			   1999 59 50 44 756 — — 
			   (1)2000 62 45 40 1,035 — — 
			   2001 43 36 31 755 — — 
		
	
	(1) Staffordshire Police Force were only able to submit sample data for persons proceeded against and convicted in the magistrates' courts for the year 2000. Although sufficient to estimate higher orders of data, these data are not robust enough at a detailed level and have been excluded from the table.

Transsexual People

Ben Chapman: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans he has to amend the genuine occupation requirements included in the Sex Discrimination (Gender Reassignment) Regulations 1999 to remove reasons for refusing transsexuals jobs.

Patricia Hewitt: I have been asked to reply.
	The Government is now considering whether, once legal recognition is given to a transsexual person's acquired gender, the Genuine Occupational Qualifications exceptions in the Gender Reassignment Regulations should be modified.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Military Exports

Stephen Pound: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has in respect of military exports to ensure that end-use certificates specify final user and destination.

Nigel Griffiths: End user undertakings must be consistent with the model format published on the Department of Trade & Industry's Export Control Organisation website, which specifies the end user and destination.
	The website address is http://www.dti.gov.uk/export.control

Nuclear Materials

Frank Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the progress of the UK's contribution to clearing-up nuclear materials in the former Soviet Union.

Brian Wilson: The Department has now completed putting in place a fairly complex project and risk management framework to allow us to commit substantial UK funding to assist Russia in particular through our Former Soviet Union Nuclear Legacy Programme. The budget for this programme is some #32 million next year and is expected to run at least this level for the foreseeable future. The programme covers a wide range of nuclear legacy issues including supporting work on weapons plutonium disposition, closed nuclear cities, nuclear safety technical assistance, nuclear security projects, social consequences projects and contributing funding to multilateral projects on decommissioning and the Chernobyl Shelter.
	A number of important projects have already been identified and the means of delivery is now in place to assist in tackling the nuclear legacy in NW Russia an area where we expect up to a third of our funding to be focused over the next few years. UK grant-aid funding for work to provide for the safe management of spent nuclear fuel stocks and for dismantling decommissioned nuclear submarines is therefore ready to flow now. However, before this funding can commence with actual projects on the ground, a suitable legal framework must be agreed with Russia to cover important issues such as third part liability, taxation and access. Hopefully, and after some delay, we are in the final stages of concluding just such a bilateral agreement under which substantive project work will begin. A similar multilateral agreement is also, again hopefully, in its final stages and will provide the mechanism for substantial multilateral assistance. I would emphasise however that the delay in signing the bilateral agreement has not delayed the preparation of projects and a number will be ready to go as soon as the agreement is in place next year.
	The nuclear legacy in NW Russia, as represented by the 100 or so decommissioned nuclear submarines and their associated spent fuel and waste, is such that it is only by active bilateral and multilateral funding that they can be tackled quickly and safely. The UK is playing a leading role in ensuring co-operation and coordination with Russia and between the various donor countries in order that this funding is effective.
	Attending the Baltic Conference of Energy Ministers in Vilnius, Lithuania in November, I committed #700,000 to purchase and install physical protection equipment for two Russian nuclear-powered icebreakers. During this visit I also met with representatives of the UK industry actively involved in planning for the decommissioning of the Ignalina nuclear power station and ameliorating the social consequences of nuclear power plant closure. UK companies have vast experience in these areas and through our social consequences work, we are supporting a number of regeneration and economic projects in Lithuania and Ukraine.
	We will be publishing the first annual report about progress in establishing this programme early next year and further details of specific projects and the programme will be made available on the DTI web site.

Appointments

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry to which bodies her Department makes appointments; how many members there are (a) in total and (b) in each body; and how many of those appointed are (i) businessmen, (ii) businessmen in SMEs and (iii) businessmen in micro-businesses.

Patricia Hewitt: holding answer 16 December 2002
	I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him by the Minister of State, Cabinet Office on 16 December 2002, Official Report, column 607W.

Civil Servants

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many civil servants are employed by his Department; and how much money was spent by her Department in the last 12 months, broken down by local authority area.

Patricia Hewitt: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Minister of State, Cabinet Office, on 16 December 2002, Official Report, column 608W.
	Details of DTI expenditure is not broken down by local authority area.

Debt Advisory Agencies

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the rates of interest charged by debt advisory agencies is included in her review of customer credit legislation.

Melanie Johnson: A specific investigation of the rates charged by debt advisory agencies will not form a part of the Consumer Credit Review. We are, however, planning to consult on ways to improve the consumer credit licensing regime and to increase protection for consumers in respect of extortionate credit in general.
	All providers of debt management and advisory services are required to be licensed by the Director General of Fair Trading under the Consumer Credit Act 1974. In December 2001, the Office of Fair Trading issued guidance to consumer credit licence holders and applicants on how it expects debt management companies to conduct their affairs.

Export Licences

Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the (a) items and (b) value of the items, exported under the open individual export licences (i) Bolivia, numbers 1 to 9, (ii) Kenya, numbers 1 to 30, (iii) Ghana, numbers 1 to 16, (iv) Angola, numbers 1 to 4, (v) Zambia, numbers 1 to 5, (vi) Yemen, numbers 1 to 3 and (vii) Tanzania, numbers 1 and 2 granted in 2001.

Nigel Griffiths: holding answer 16 December 2002
	I refer the right hon. and learned Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Meirionnydd Nant Conwy (Mr. Llwyd) on 18 March 2002, Official Report, column 53W.

Intellectual Property Rights

David Heathcoat-Amory: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she has recently consulted trade bodies and user groups about proposals to change the UK's powers over intellectual property rights in international forums.

Melanie Johnson: Changes are under consideration in the Convention on the Future of Europe whose working documents are in the public arena. The work of the Convention has been drawn to the attention of industry and user representatives. Formal proposals have not yet emerged, but two relevant recommendations under discussion include a separate article for IP issues within a new EU treaty and extension of qualified majority voting to all areas of commercial policy including intellectual property. Further discussion on these issues will take place in the coming months.

Intellectual Property Rights

David Heathcoat-Amory: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to recommend changes to the division of responsibilities for intellectual property rights between the EU and the UK.

Melanie Johnson: Changes are under consideration in the Convention on the Future of Europe. Formal proposals have not yet emerged, but two relevant recommendations under discussion include a separate article for IP issues within a new EU treaty and extension of qualified majority voting to all areas of commercial policy including intellectual property. Further discussion on these issues will take place in the coming months.

Small Business Charter

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the implementation of the Small Business Charter, announced at the Lisbon summit.

Nigel Griffiths: The UK and its European partners are continuing to implement the 10 key enterprise measures in the European Charter for Small Enterprises. The European Commission's second annual implementation report to the last Spring Council noted that progress has undoubtedly been made, but that there was clearly scope for further development. The Commission will produce its third annual implementation report early in 2003. This report will again take account of national reports. The UK's report recounted further progress across all areas in the period up to September 2002. The UK's report has been deposited in the Libraries of both Houses.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Abuja Talks

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the outcome of the talks in Abuja, Nigeria, organised by the African Development Bank and the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organisation, regarding Africa's agricultural problems, held on 11–12 December.

Clare Short: Talks on the NEPAD Vision for Agricultural Development and Food Security in Africa were held in Abuja from 11–12 December 2002. The talks pledged African governments and regional organisations to working on action plans and programmes on food security and agricultural development, to be implemented especially at a regional level. There was recognition of the opportunities presented by NEPAD and the need to prepare and implement short, medium and long-term bankable projects.

Afghanistan

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, with regard to health programmes in Afghanistan, what monies (a) her Department has pledged, (b) her Department has delivered, (c) other G8 countries have pledged and (d) other G8 countries have delivered.

Clare Short: In the current financial year, we have disbursed #2 million to the World Health Organisation. This is in addition to funds that have supported NGOs working in the health sector through the QIPs (Quick Impact Projects) scheme. A further #1 million has also been earmarked for the health sector for this year. The manner in which it will be disbursed has yet to be decided. Capacity building for the Ministry of Health has, however, been flagged as a priority.
	It is not possible at this time to give detailed information on the activities of other donors in the health sector. We have supported the Afghanistan Transitional Authority (ATA) in developing a database that will begin to capture such information from 2003. Aid pledged in support of health programmes is delivered in a variety of different manners: bilaterally, multilaterally and through the Afghan Reconstruction Trust fund.
	However, we are aware of specific pledges for the health sector of at least US$100 million from donors, including the World bank, the Asian Development bank, USAID, GTZ, the EU, JICA and the Canadian and Norwegian Governments.

Afghanistan

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent discussions her Department has had with government ministers in Afghanistan to ensure the safety of Afghan girls attending school.

Clare Short: We are concerned about the reports of attacks on girls' schools in various parts of Afghanistan. Although we are only aware of a limited number of incidents and millions of girls are going back to school, this is a worrying signal of the threat to the equal status of women and girls in Afghanistan. This must be addressed through a comprehensive effort to improve gender equality. During my recent visit to Afghanistan I met the Afghan Affairs Minister, Dr. Habiba Sorabi, and representatives of women's groups. We discussed the factors affecting girls returning to school as well as the wider issue of women's rights.

African Development

Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions her Department has had with the US Government about the role of the Millennium Challenge Corporation in Africa; and if she will make a statement.

Clare Short: DFID has had frequent senior level contact with the US Administration on the development of its Millennium Challenge Account since it was announced in March this year. We have encouraged the USA to focus the Account's resources on the poorest countries, many of which are in Africa.
	The US Administration has recently announced the criteria against which it proposes that the Millennium Challenge Corporation should manage the Account. But it is not yet clear how many, or which, African countries can be expected to qualify, or how much of the funding will go to Africa.

African Development

Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions her Department has had with the members of the New Partnership for Africa's Development, regarding the role of the US Millennium Challenge Corporation in Africa.

Clare Short: Baroness Amos (the Prime Minister's G8 Special Representative on Africa) recently met G8 colleagues and NEPAD representatives in Accra to discuss implementation of the G8 Africa Action Plan, which includes a section on aid volume and effectiveness. The role of the Millennium Challenge Corporation in Africa was not discussed explicitly in Accra. We continue to work with African governments and other donors on aid effectiveness and are encouraging the US Administration to focus the work of the Millennium Challenge Corporation on low income countries, many of which are in Africa.

African Union

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development which member states of the African Union have adopted the Declaration on Democracy, Political, Economic and Corporate Governance.

Clare Short: The Declaration on Democracy, Political, Economic and Corporate Governance was jointly made by all member states of the African Union at the inaugural Durban meeting of the African Union in June 2002. It affirms commitment to the governance codes and standards which will be used as the basis for peer reviews.

Good Governance

Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions her Department has had with the Treasury on the interaction between the new US Government programme to reward emerging markets that meet their criteria of good governance and the Chancellor of the Exchequer's new International Development Finance Facility.

Clare Short: The UK's proposal to establish a new International Financing Facility would allow participating Governments to disburse resources through existing effective bilateral and multilateral mechanisms. If the US Government wishes, this could include the US Millennium Challenge Account. The Government's view is that an increased share of development assistance should go to the countries in which aid is used most effectively, i.e. countries with high levels of poverty and a good policy environment, and be delivered through development agencies which share a commitment to the improved management of aid. The Chancellor of the Exchequer and I and our respective Departments are working closely together on this proposal.

Health Care and Education

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development in which countries her Department has financed (a) health care and (b) education projects that have involved an element of privatisation.

Clare Short: My Department is focused on improving health and education services for the poor and favours policies that achieve this objective. We do, however, recognise the importance of the private sector in delivering services to the poor. For example, 50–80 per cent. of all health care expenditures in developing countries are through the private sector. In parallel to our work to strengthen public sector health systems, DFID support to private sector providers seeks to increase access to high quality health services for the poor. Examples of interventions include support to social marketing of condoms and contraceptives and bed nets to prevent malaria.

HIV/AIDS

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development which countries have benefited from the investment by the Department of International Development on HIV/AIDS related bilateral work since last year; and by how much.

Clare Short: The information requested is set out as follows. Please note these figures do not include expenditure on regional programmes or non region specific work on programmes and research based in the UK.
	
		HIV/AIDS related expenditure by country
		
			  #000 
		
		
			 Afghanistan 351 
			 Angola 0 
			 Bangladesh 17,886 
			 Belarus, Republic of 8 
			 Bolivia 2,294 
			 Brazil 10 
			 Burkina Faso 0 
			 Burma 57 
			 Cameroon 0 
			 Cambodia 906 
			 China 2,426 
			 Cuba 49 
			 Ecuador 83 
			 Ethiopia 92 
			 Ghana 129 
			 Guyana 84 
			 Haiti 72 
			 Honduras 123 
			 India 5,894 
			 Iran 334 
			 Kazakhstan, Republic of 13 
			 Kenya 8,011 
			 Laos 0 
			 Lesotho 74 
			 Macedonia 0 
			 Malawi 15,673 
			 Mali 80 
			 Mexico 42 
			 Moldova, Republic of 12 
			 Mongolia 24 
			 Montserrat 424 
			 Mozambique 7,079 
			 Namibia 166 
			 Nepal 1,886 
			 Nicaragua 90 
			 Nigeria 2,015 
			 Pakistan 2,472 
			 Peru 139 
			 Russian Federation 784 
			 Rwanda 1,072 
			 Senegal 147 
			 Serbia and Montenegro 807 
			 Sierra Leone 408 
			 Somali Democratic Rep 6 
			 South Africa, Republic of 5,570 
			 Sri Lanka 82 
			 Sudan 452 
			 Swaziland 54 
			 Tanzania 46,944 
			 Togo 47 
			 Uganda 2,103 
			 Ukraine 52 
			 Vietnam 76 
			 West Bank and Gaza 575 
			 Yugoslavia 0 
			 Zambia 4,005 
			 Zimbabwe 8,778

Information Communication Technology

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will make a statement on the progress of the work of the United Nations Development Programme in information and communications technology.

Clare Short: UNDP has been active in the field of information communication technology (ICT) since 1993 in close to 90 countries through a combination of global, regional and national programmes. In the initial phases of its work, UNDP's focus was largely on creating awareness, building capacity, and supporting ICT for development at the community and national level. The focus has now widened following discussions with UNDP's Executive Board in June 2001. UNDP now includes assisting countries with ICT for development policies, the formulation and implementation of prioritised national e-development strategies. Other programme initiatives which signify further progress are that of ICT to enhance democratic governance (e-governance), economic and social development (for example, micro finance, e-business, ICT to support local development) at local and national levels.

Kenya

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of levels of food security in north-west Kenya; and if she will make a statement.

Clare Short: Following several years of poor rains and drought, the food security situation in north-west Kenya remains precarious. But heavy rainfall is now bringing both immediate respite and better prospects for significant improvements in the availability of water, pasture and browse. For the first time in two years, recovery is now a real possibility. DFID continues to monitor the situation in close collaboration with the Government of Kenya, the UN, NGO's and other donors.
	Since 1999, DFID has spent over #18 million on drought-related assistance to Kenya. Most of this has been targeted on the north of the country.

New Partnership for Africa's Development

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what progress has been made on the African Peer Review Mechanism within NEPAD on (a) economic values, (b) governance values and (c) corporate values.

Clare Short: At the Abuja meeting of the NEPAD Implementation Committee, 13 countries signed up for peer review. The full details of the process will be settled in January, but we understand that a group of eminent persons will oversee reviews carried out by technical experts. The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa will be involved in the technical reviews of economic governance, and has had a series of useful exchanges on the process of peer review with the OECD DAC.

Poverty Reduction

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what financial assistance her Department is providing in 2002–03 to (a) Bolivia, (b) Pakistan and (c) India in support of policy reforms and poverty reduction measures.

Clare Short: The information is as follows:
	Bolivia We have allocated some #10 million for our total bilateral development assistance programme for 2002–03 in Bolivia. Additionally, Bolivia will benefit from DFID funds contributed to multilateral organisations such as the World bank and IADB, through grants to civil society organisations. The EC is providing #80.7 million for 2002–06, of which DFID's share is around 19 per cent.
	We have now moved away from supporting discrete bilateral projects to support for government-led policy reforms within the context of the Bolivian poverty reduction strategy, concentrating on adding value to the international community's support to Bolivia's development effort. We are focusing our support in two areas—the integration of economic and social policy, recognising the key role of the informal economy for poor people's livelihoods, and enhancing social inclusion and participation in political processes within a more accountable and transparent institutional framework.
	India DFID has allocated #230 million of development assistance to India in financial year 2002–03. The EC is providing #17.9 million in 2002–03, of which DFID's share is around 19 per cent.
	Our development programme in India, where on in three of the world's poor live, is aimed at helping Government, at both national and state level, to deliver pro-poor policies and services. We are working closely with four partner states committed to poverty reduction, including on their programmes of fiscal and public service reform.
	We are also working on increasing access to basic health, education, and water and sanitation services for the poor, on promoting better management of the natural and physical environment, and on promoting greater empowerment of the poor, especially women and the marginalised.
	Pakistan DFID has allocated #60 million of development assistance to Pakistan in financial year 2002–03, of which #40 million is financial aid. #105.7 million is being provided by the EC for 2002–06, again with DFID's share being around 19 per cent.
	We are committed to supporting Pakistan's economic and social development for the long haul. The ultimate aim is the reduction of poverty as set out in the Government of Pakistan's interim poverty reduction strategy paper.
	DFID's bilateral programme is focused on three objectives: creating the economic conditions for poverty reduction; improving health outcomes for poor people and improving education outcomes for poor people.

River Congo

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to the answer of 9 December 2002, Official Report, column 62W, on the River Congo, what preventive measures are being taken to reduce the impact of a flooding of the river.

Clare Short: DFID funds a number of humanitarian agencies in DRC that specialise in interventions to minimise the effects of man made and natural disasters. Specifically, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs operates an emergency response programme to which DFID has contributed #500,000. The International Committee of the Red Cross is also mandated to respond to provide humanitarian assistance, should urgent needs arise. DFID is in the process of finalising a contribution of #2.5 million to the ICRC for DRC. We have also provided support to an OXFAM water and sanitation programme in Kinshasa. Effective intervention in this sector will be critical if significant flooding does occur.

South Africa

Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much money her Department is giving in 2002–03 to provide safe water for the people of South Africa; and if she will make a statement.

Clare Short: My Department anticipates spending #1.36 million on water and sanitation in South Africa in 2002–03. A new #11.54 million DFID support programme started in September 2002. The programme will run for five years, with an anticipated spend in 2003–04 of #2.9 million.
	In addition, we contribute around #2.7 million per year to EU water and sanitation programmes in South Africa.

South Africa

Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of the US Aid Padco Report on water privatisation in South Africa.

Clare Short: I have made no assessment of the report. The report was commissioned by the Municipal Infrastructure Investment Unit, a body set up by, and accountable to, the South African Department of Provincial and Local Government, using funding from USAID. It is part of a broad series of small research projects to help inform the Government of South Africa's policy thinking around PPPs.

South Africa

Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions her Department has had on water privatisation in South Africa with (a) the South African Municipal Workers Union and (b) non-governmental organisations working in the country.

Clare Short: My Department has not engaged in bilateral discussions on the subject of water privatisation with either the South African Municipal Workers Union (SAMWU) or NGOs. However, SAMWU and the NGO community are represented on both the Water Sector Leadership Group (WSLG) and the Steering Committee for the SA Government's Masibambane water and sanitation programme. My Department is also represented on both committees. The subject of water privatisation has on occasions been discussed at both the Masibambane meetings and WSLG.

Southern Africa

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what efforts there have been to overcome delays to food imports in Zambia caused by the issuing of import licences.

Clare Short: DFID became aware of the delay in the issuing of import licences for food imports in Zambia in mid November. The WFP brought this up at a meeting with the Deputy Minister of Finance at the end of November and he agreed to facilitate the prompt issue of import licences if this remained a problem. My officials have encouraged WFP to pursue this issue.
	Import licences are currently being issued within a week of request, which is sufficient to avoid delays to the WFP food pipeline.

Southern Africa

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what progress has been made by the World Food Programme in completing the contract for the transportation of food aid to southern Africa.

Clare Short: The World Food Programme is doing an excellent job in trying to meet the needs of the most vulnerable people in the southern Africa region. Food Aid received in Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Swaziland, Zambia, and Zimbabwe since July 2002 amounts to 344,830MT. WFP, with help from DFID, is actively trying to avoid any break in the food pipeline this month. WFP's key constraint in maintaining and building up the pipeline for the height of the humanitarian crisis in January and February is getting the funding it needs from donors. We are continuing to press other donors to do more, and the UK remains the second largest bilateral donor to the crisis.

Sustainable Crops (Africa)

John Lyons: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assistance the UK is giving the underdeveloped countries of Africa to produce sustainable crops.

Clare Short: My Department works with developing countries to ensure that their poverty reduction strategies reflect the need to manage environmental resources, including agricultural production, sustainably. Sustainability must be seen in its widest context. It is not just a matter of the ecology of agricultural systems themselves, but the impact of these systems on the lives and opportunities of others, particularly poor consumers and producers. Sustainability in one system cannot be at the expense of sustainability in others.
	My Department also supports a significant number of programmes and projects throughout the developing world that seek to provide direct benefits to poor people whose livelihoods are dependent on agriculture. Many of these include the provision of support to sustainable agriculture, either through training and knowledge/technology transfer, institutional capacity building and reform (e.g. strengthening co-operatives and other forms of producer groups and improving agricultural service delivery) or the funding of research, both national and international.
	This year, DFID expects to spend about #35 million on natural resources research. While sustainability is a cornerstone for all our research programmes, a significant proportion of the programme is focused on developing and transferring technologies specifically for sustainable agriculture.
	Copies of the DFID issues paper XBetter Livelihoods for Poor People: The Role of Agriculture and the Renewable Natural Resources Research Strategy" publication are available in the Libraries of the House.

Uganda

Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment her Department has made of the plans for privatisation of water in towns in Uganda; and if she will make a statement.

Clare Short: The central theme of the urban reform process in Uganda is private sector management of existing utilities, as opposed to privatisation. A recent
	review by the World bank revealed that this shift has realised efficiency gains, with the National Water and Sanitation Corporation now showing an operating profit. DFID has a #5 million programme of support to the water and sanitation sector in Uganda, focused on financing the rural sector, but through which we also engage in policy dialogue on urban reform. In addition, we provide technical assistance to the Utility Reform Unit, which is leading the urban water reform programme. We have recently commissioned a review of lessons learned from private sector participation in the water sector, with the view to considering further support for assessing the social impact of new policies.

Urban Sewage Projects

Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much money her Department is giving to urban sewage projects in (a) Africa, (b) Asia and (c) Latin America in 2002–03.

Clare Short: The latest period for which details of expenditure are available is 2001–02. Allocation is defined by current DAC categories for the water sector, which do not differentiate between water supply and sanitation. My Department's bilateral expenditure on urban water supply and sanitation in the period 2001–02 was as follows:
	
		
			  # 
		
		
			  
			 Africa 8 million 
			 Asia 12.7 million 
			 Central and South America 100,000

Uzbekistan

Greg Pope: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the total amount of UK bilateral aid to Uzbekistan was in the last year for which figures are available.

Clare Short: In 2001–02, the last year for which figures are available, the total amount of UK bilateral aid to Uzbekistan was #362,000.
	Funding is also provided via the EC, of which DFID's share is around 19 per cent. In 2000, our contribution to Uzbekistan was approximately #1.3 million.

Working Group on Access to Medicines

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what research and development into medicines and vaccines her Department's Working Group on Access to Medicines has undertaken since it was established.

Clare Short: The High Level Working Group on Access to Medicines' task, among others, was to consider ways to increase research and development (R&D) for diseases that affect poor people in the developing world. The group has now reported to the Prime Minister and put forward options for partnerships and policies that can help resolve market failure and re-shape incentives for industry, and to ensure investment by the pharmaceutical industry on R&D for diseases of poor people is monitored. One positive advance has been the Government's announcement, in April, to extend tax relief to companies involved in R&D for HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria relevant to the developing world.
	The group recognised that investment in R&D for childhood diseases and six additional tropical diseases remains critically short. My Department currently invests in a number of R&D partnerships in this area and will continue to look at policy options that can further increase R&D for neglected diseases. The Government are taking forward a High Level Working Group recommendation to look at the potential that modified Orphaned Drug legislation might have to stimulate R&D investments for these neglected diseases.

Yemen

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what progress has been made on the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper of the Yemen.

Clare Short: The Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper was submitted by the Government of Yemen to the Boards of the World bank and the IMF at the end of July, and subsequently approved by both.
	The World bank hosted a Consultative Group meeting in Paris during October, which was attended by representatives from the Government and from donor agencies operating in Yemen. At this meeting, both the Government and the donor community affirmed their commitment to work together in implementing the Poverty Reduction Strategy over the course of the next three years.
	Detailed discussions are now under way in Sana'a about how to implement that commitment and monitor progress.

Yemen

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what her Department is doing to work with the Government of Yemen (a) on their basic education programme and (b) reproductive health.

Clare Short: My Department does not currently have a programme of work with the Government of Yemen in either the basic education or reproductive ealth sectors. Through the Small Grants Scheme administered by the British Embassy, we are supporting some small-scale activities which are being implemented by non-governmental organisations at a local level.

Yemen

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much money her Department will give to the Yemen in 2002–03 and if this will increase within the Framework of the Resource Allocation Round.

Clare Short: My Department expects to provide funding worth around #2.28 million to Yemen in 2002–03. The outcome of the Resource Allocation Round for future years will be known early in 2003.

Zimbabwe

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps are being taken to encourage school attendance in Zimbabwe.

Clare Short: There are programmes in Zimbabwe which aim to provide all primary school children with supplementary food. But there is a lack of funds to implement these programmes fully. Direct bilateral programmes, including DFID's supplementary feeding programme, are now providing over one million school children with a supplementary meal a day. Monitoring indicates that where feeding is being conducted, this has been successful in reducing drop-out rates.

Zimbabwe

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to the answer of 10 July, Official Report, columns 957–8W, on HIV/AIDS, how money has been (a) allocated and (b) spent for HIV/AIDS-related programmes, broken down by country.

Clare Short: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Shrewsbury and Atcham (Mr. Marsden) 23 July 2002, Official Report, columns 894–5W.

Zimbabwe

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the impact which the decision of the Zimbabwean Government to ban the milling of GM maize has had on food relief efforts in the country.

Clare Short: Last week, the Government of Zimbabwe rescinded its decision to ban the importation of GM maize for milling in-country. Milling of GM food already in the country has resumed, agreement has been reached on the import of 17,500MT of GM grain which will also be milled in country. The National Food mill at Bulawayo has continued to mill, and the Gweru plant will also be brought on stream, bringing the authorised milling capacity in Zimbabwe to about 16,000MT/month.

Zimbabwe

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what impact the break in food aid in the first two weeks of December has had in (a) Zimbabwe and (b) Zambia.

Clare Short: It is now unlikely that there will be breaks in the food pipelines to either country during December, although the situation remains fragile. For Zimbabwe, against a target distribution of 50,000MT of maize for 4.5 million beneficiaries in 44 districts, the realistic distribution figure may be as low as 20,000MT. In order to allow for this shortage, WFP has introduced two ration scales: (i) 5Kg of maize will be distributed to families in districts that have been receiving food aid on a regular basis; and (ii) 10Kg of maize will be distributed to families in areas that have not received food aid thus far. All families will receive 1Kg of CSB and 1Kg of pulses. For Zambia, DFID has helped strengthen the WFP pipeline with a unique agreement between the Government of the Republic of Zambia (GRZ) and WFP. This involves distributing 23,000MT of GRZ purchased maize through the WFP pipeline with transportation costs being met by DFID. This will ensure a full maize pipeline for Zambia during December.

SCOTLAND

Civil Defence

Archy Kirkwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if she will list the civil defence grant allocations by local authority, in (a) cash and (b) real terms; and if she will make a statement on civil defence in Scotland.

Helen Liddell: Civil Defence grant to Scottish local authorities ceased with the signing of the Civil Defence (Grant) (Scotland) Regulations 2001 in March 2001. Financial support for local authorities for the emergency planning work which they carry out continues to be provided at the request of local authorities through the normal GAE mechanism.
	In Scotland there are well-established procedures for dealing with a wide range of civil emergencies. Following the events of 11 September a range of additional measures have been put in place. These provide significant funding for new equipment for the emergency services; new procedures for dealing with suspect packages; and guidance on dealing with the threat from, and consequences of, chemical and biological incidents. In addition my Department and Scottish Executive colleagues are fully involved in the work being led by the Cabinet Office in resilience planning across the UK.

Expenditure Limit

Jacqui Lait: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to her Written Ministerial Statement of 27 November 2002, Official Report, column 29WS, whether the Scotland Office is running a budget surplus in the current financial year.

Helen Liddell: I expect Scotland Office expenditure to be contained within the Department Expenditure Limit in the current financial year.

Expenditure Limit

Jacqui Lait: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to her Written Ministerial Statement of 27 November 2002, Official Report, column 29WS, what factors account for the increase in the Scotland Departmental Expenditure Limit arising from the take-up of the End Year Flexibility.

Helen Liddell: The increase in the Scotland Departmental Expenditure Limit is required to meet planned expenditure by the Scottish Executive and the Boundary Commission for Scotland, and to enable the Scotland Office to move towards its full staffing level.

Industrial and Provident Society Law

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions she has had with the Scottish Executive about amending industrial and provident society law; and if she will make a statement.

Anne McGuire: Scotland Office officials have discussed with executive officials the implications of the report by the Strategy Unit, XPrivate Action, Public Benefit", on charities and the wider not for profit sector. This report contains recommendations on bringing Industrial and Provident Society law up to date.

Official Travel

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what the total expenditure of (a) her Department and (b) its agencies was on official travel in 2001–02.

Helen Liddell: holding answer 3 December 2002
	Since 1999, the Government have published an annual list of all visits overseas undertaken by Cabinet Ministers costing #500 or more during each financial year. The Government have also published on an annual basis the cost of all Ministers' visits overseas. Details of travel undertaken during the period 1 April 2001 to 31 March 2002 were published on 24 July 2002, Official Report, column 75W. The cost of Ministers' visits overseas for 2002–03 will be published as soon as possible after the end of the current financial year. Copies of the lists are available in the Libraries of the House.
	All travel is undertaken fully in accordance with the rules set out in the Ministerial Code and Travel by Ministers, copies of which are available in the Libraries of the House.
	Total expenditure on travel by my Department in 2001–02 was #305,000.

Organic Food

Joan Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how the target for increasing the market share of UK-produced organic foods over organic imports in the DEFRA Organic Action Plan will apply in Scotland.

Helen Liddell: Responsibility for agriculture in Scotland is devolved. While some of the elements of the DEFRA plan such as the compendium of standards will apply on a UK basis, the targets will not apply to Scotland. Scottish Executive Ministers have appointed an Organic Stakeholder Group to deliver an action plan with recommendations for future executive support for the organic sector in Scotland. The Group will consider a wide range of issues including future executive support for organic conversion, development of the organic food chain, research priorities and organic standards and certification. The group is due to report in January 2003.

Rail Links

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent discussions she has had with the Scottish Executive regarding the proposed plans to redevelop a rail link between Edinburgh and the Scottish borders.

Helen Liddell: Following approval in July of an Order under Section 30 of the Scotland Act 1998, the Scottish Parliament now has legislative competence for the promotion and construction of railways wholly within Scotland. I understand that the Scottish Executive has provided #2 million to the promoter, the Waverley Railway Partnership, to help towards the costs of securing the necessary parliamentary powers for reinstating a railway connection between Edinburgh and the central Borders.

Sustainability Strategy

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what the sustainability strategy is for her Department; and if she will make a statement on how it has changed since the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg.

Helen Liddell: My Department has limited executive responsibilities, but it is committed to the Government's sustainability development strategy in carrying out its functions.
	Following devolution, most aspects of sustainable development in Scotland are the responsibility of the Scottish Executive. In April this year, the Executive published XMeeting the Needs—Priorities, Actions and Targets for Sustainable Development in Scotland". This identified resource use, energy and travel as the main priorities for action and set out indicators and targets for monitoring progress.
	The outcome of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, and first views on follow up, will be reflected in the annual report on UK progress on sustainable development for 2002.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Canoeing

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to increase access to water for canoeing; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Smith: The Department for Culture, Arts and Leisure has a water recreation remit which allows it to provide and improve facilities for promoting the recreational or navigational use of waterways. The Department has funded the installation of public canoe steps and associated facilities on a number of Northern Ireland rivers under this programme. The Department is also administering a European-funded Water Recreation Development Programme 2001–04 for projects designed to develop the inland waterway network and improve water recreation facilities available to both local and tourist users.
	In December this year the Countryside Access and Activities Network for Northern Ireland (CAAN) published a Report on XCanoeing in Northern Ireland—Strategic Review" which sets out a recommended way forward for the future development of canoeing.

Foetal Health

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what obligations there are on employers to provide protection for an unborn child at the mother's workplace.

Ian Pearson: Obligations on employers to provide protection for an unborn child at the mother's workplace are provided through the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000. These regulations require employers to carry out risk assessments to identify hazards and take appropriate action to protect the health and safety of the expectant mother and her unborn child.

Local Government

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he will meet the National Association of Local Councillors (Northern Ireland Region) to discuss (a) members' allowances, (b) the future of local government and (c) other matters of mutual interest.

Paul Murphy: I have no immediate plans to meet the National Association of Councillors (Northern Ireland Region). Local Government issues are the responsibility of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Angela Smith), who has responsibility for the Department of the Environment. I understand she plans to meet members of the Association on a regular basis, as was the practice of the former Minister of the Environment (Dermot Nesbitt). Preparations for a meeting early in the new year are currently underway.

Sickness (Teachers)

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what measures are in place to reduce the number of teacher sickness absences in Northern Ireland.

Jane Kennedy: The monitoring of sick absences is the responsibility of teachers' employers.
	Information on teacher absences in the controlled and maintained sectors is routinely made available by the Department to each Education and Library Board and the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools.
	The Department of Education and the employing authorities are very much aware of the pressures and challenges facing teachers and are working closely with teacher representatives to seek ways of maintaining and improving the health of teachers. The Teachers' Health and Well-being Survey Report has just been published and a strategy group has been established to take forward its recommendations.
	The Department and employers will also be looking very carefully at the recommendations in the Northern Ireland Audit Office Report on The Management of Substitution Cover for Teachers, about identifying local patterns and trends so that reasonable targets for reducing sick absences can be set and monitored.

Supply Teachers

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what efforts he is making to ensure that schools in Northern Ireland give priority to offering supply teaching vacancies to young unemployed qualified teachers.

Jane Kennedy: The recruitment of substitute teachers is the responsibility of teachers' employers. Employers are encouraged to give preference to newly qualified teachers and experienced non-retired teachers who are seeking employment. Retired teachers should only be re-employed to provide short-term cover where newly qualified teachers or experienced non-retired teachers unavailable. Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment's (DETI) statistics for February 2002 (the latest month for which statistics are available) indicate there were only three teachers under 25 years of age registered as unemployed for more than six months.
	Capping of the levels of the central reimbursement of the costs of substitute cover also provides an incentive for schools to employ newly qualified teachers as substitutes.

Youth Services

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much is being spent in 2002–03 on youth service provision in (a) North Belfast, (b) East Belfast, (c) South Belfast and (d) West Belfast; and how many people are employed as (i) full-time staff and (ii) part-time staff in each area.

Jane Kennedy: It has not been possible to divide Belfast into areas corresponding to parliamentary constituencies. However, for Education and Library Board controlled and voluntary youth projects an attempt has been made to define the boundaries that are currently considered North, South, East and West within the Belfast Youth Service. The position in respect of 2002–03 for youth projects in these areas is as follows:
	
		
			   Staffing  
			 Area Spending (approx.) (#000) Full-time Part-time 
		
		
			 (a) North 908 20 40 
			 (b) East 413 9 49 
			 (c) South 482 11 64 
			 (d) West 812 24 63 
			 Total 2,615 64 216 
		
	
	As Education and Library Board Support and other services such as outdoor education centres, support to uniform organisations, training, Duke of Edinburgh and headquarter staffing are city wide or city centre initiatives it has not been possible to breakdown the remaining spending of around #l million or the remaining staffing provision.
	The Belfast Regeneration Office of the Department for Social Development will have a total spend, during 2002–03, of #371,833 on youth service provision in North, South, East and West Belfast and will employ seven full time and one part time staff during this period. Please see details of the breakdown of these figures in the following table.
	
		
			 Area/project name Funding 2002–03 (#) Number of employees 
		
		
			 North Belfast   
			 Ballysillan Elim Church 1,456.00 0 
			 Ardoyne Youth Providers' Forum 17,154.00 0 
			 Artillery Youth Centre 23,143.00 0 
			 Manor Street/Cliftonville Community Group 9,239.00 0 
			 Total 50,992.00 0

TREASURY

National Insurance

Andrew Mitchell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make it Government policy not to (a) employ and (b) award contracts to a financial institution which uses offshore arrangements intended to avoid employers' national insurance liabilities, or has done so in the last three years.

Paul Boateng: Individual Government Departments are responsible for taking decisions on the goods and services they acquire—and from whom they acquire them—taking account of the Government's procurement policy of seeking value for money for the taxpayer. Under Regulation 14 (1) (f) and (g) of the Public Works, Services and Supply Contracts Regulations (SIs: 1991/2680, 1993/3228 and 1995/201 respectively), Departments may reject any potential supplier who has not fulfilled obligations relating to the payment of social security contributions or of taxes under the law of the UK and, where relevant, of another member state. This provision is not time limited.

Annual Convergence Programme

Barbara Follett: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he plans to submit an updated, annual Convergence Programme, as required by the Stability and Growth Pact.

Ruth Kelly: As required under the Stability and Growth Pact, an updated, annual Convergence Programme has today been submitted to the European Commission. Copies of the Programme are available in the Libraries of both Houses.

Community Care Grant and Budgeting Loan

Patsy Calton: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will increase the amount of money available to (a) the Community Care Grant and (b) the Budgeting Loan budget.

Malcolm Wicks: I have been asked to reply.
	The discretionary Social Fund provides people on low incomes with grants and loans to help them manage a wide range of unexpected or occasional costs, including the purchase of beds and cookers, depending on their individual circumstances.
	On 27 November, we announced that from April 2003, #90 million will be added to the discretionary Fund over the three years to 2005–06. This extra investment will enhance the fund's ability to help those on low incomes manage their finances.
	We have already introduced a number of important changes to the Social Fund. We have simplified the budgeting loan scheme so that all applicants who satisfy the qualifying conditions, and have no outstanding Social Fund debt, will be offered a loan. We have also extended the qualifying conditions for community care grants to help people setting up home in the community who have been without a settled way of life.

ECOFIN

Jimmy Hood: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the outcome was of the Special ECOFIN Council held on 11 December 2002; and what the Government's stance was on the issues discussed, including its voting record; and if he will make a statement.

Gordon Brown: I attended the special ECOFIN meeting on 11 December 2002.
	There was a discussion of draft conclusions on the tax package, based on the proposals outlined by the Presidency at the 3 December 2002 ECOFIN meeting.
	The Presidency confirmed that further discussion on this and energy taxation would be scheduled for the ECOFIN meeting on 21 January 2003. The Commission undertook to put in place appropriate measures to ensure that the French and Italian derogations, allowing reduced duty rates for hauliers, would be extended until then.No votes were taken at this meeting.

Economic Activity

David Willetts: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the 50 local authority areas with (a) the lowest and (b) the highest rates of economic inactivity.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. David Willetts, dated 19 December 2002
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question on economic inactivity rates. (88215)
	The attached table lists (a) the 50 local authority areas with the lowest economic inactivity rates and (b) the 50 local authority areas with the highest economic inactivity rates, for the twelve month period ending August 2002. These estimates are from the Labour Force Survey (LFS).
	
		Economic inactivity rates(2) by local authority area; United Kingdom—Average of September 2001 to August 2002
		
			  Inactivity rate (per cent.) 
		
		
			  50 local authority areas with the lowest inactivity rates 
			 Test Valley 9.6 
			 Welwyn Hatfield 10.0 
			 Salisbury 10.1 
			 Tandridge 10.5 
			 Eastleigh 10.6 
			 Cherwell 11.1 
			 Blaby 11.1 
			 Runnymede 11.2 
			 Milton Keynes 11.2 
			 West Oxfordshire 11.6 
			 Crawley 12.2 
			 Rushmoor 12.5 
			 Spelthorne 12.5 
			 Chichester 12.6 
			 South Somerset 12.7 
			 Broadland 12.8 
			 Tewkesbury 12.9 
			 Harrogate 12.9 
			 South Staffordshire 13.0 
			 Hambleton 13.2 
			 Swindon 13.2 
			 East Hertfordshire 13.3 
			 South Kesteven 13.3 
			 East Staffordshire 13.3 
			 Reigate and Banstead 13.4 
			 Vale of White Horse 13.4 
			 Kingston upon Thames 13.5 
			 East Hampshire 13.5 
			 Winchester 13.5 
			 South Derbyshire 13.6 
			 Dacorum 13.6 
			 North West Leicestershire 13.7 
			 South Gloucestershire 13.8 
			 Erewash 13.9 
			 Northampton 13.9 
			 Dudley 14.0 
			 Bracknell Forest 14.0 
			 Mid Sussex 14.0 
			 South Cambridgeshire 14.1 
			 Perth and Kinross 14.1 
			 Fareham 14.1 
			 Taunton Deane 14.3 
			 West Berkshire 14.3 
			 Woking 14.3 
			 North Kesteven 14.4 
			 Aylesbury Vale 14.4 
			 Sutton 14.4 
			 Wyre Forest 14.5 
			 Rugby 14.5 
			 Chelmsford 14.5 
			   
			  50 local authority areas with the highest inactivity rates  
			 Newham 39.6 
			 Ceredigion 38.8 
			 Tower Hamlets 38.5 
			 Hackney 35.7 
			 Liverpool 35.0 
			 Torfaen 33.8 
			 Neath Port Talbot 33.6 
			 Hartlepool 33.3 
			 Glasgow City 32.9 
			 Manchester 32.8 
			 Wear Valley 32.5 
			 Westminster 32.4 
			 Anglesey Isle of 31.6 
			 Barrow-in-Furness 30.7 
			 Pembrokeshire 30.3 
			 Haringey 30.2 
			 Easington 30.1 
			 Newcastle upon Tyne 30.1 
			 Knowsley 30.1 
			 Nottingham 29.9 
			 Blaenau Gwent 29.6 
			 Islington 29.6 
			 Leicester 29.4 
			 Barnsley 29.3 
			 Clackmannanshire 29.3 
			 Carmarthenshire 29.2 
			 Rhondda Cynon Taff 29.2 
			 Redcar and Cleveland 29.1 
			 Greenwich 28.9 
			 Durham 28.7 
			 Caerphilly 28.5 
			 Northern Ireland 28.3 
			 Southwark 28.2 
			 Kingston upon Hull City of 28.2 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 28.1 
			 Merthyr Tydfil 28.0 
			 Stockton-on-Tees 27.9 
			 Ashfield 27.9 
			 Cardiff 27.7 
			 Birmingham 27.7 
			 Sunderland 27.7 
			 Inverclyde 27.6 
			 Darlington 27.6 
			 Burnley 27.4 
			 Barking and Dagenham 27.3 
			 Stoke-on-Trent 27.3 
			 Wrexham 27.1 
			 Scarborough 27.0 
			 Wansbeck 27.0 
			 Great Yarmouth 26.9 
		
	
	(2) Total economically inactive as a percentage of the resident population of working age.
	Note:
	These Labour Force Survey (LFS) estimates have not yet been adjusted to take account of the recent 2001 Census results.
	Source:
	ONS Labour Force Survey

Insurance Premium Tax

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his answer of 10 December 2002, Official Report, column 263W on insurance premium tax, what material he has published reviewing insurance premium tax; and if he will publish an interim report.

Ruth Kelly: We have not published any material reviewing insurance premium tax and there are no current plans to do so.

North Sea Oil Profits

Howard Flight: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the revenue from corporation tax on North Sea oil profits was in each year since 1997.

Dawn Primarolo: Receipts from North Sea corporation tax are given in Statistics Table 11.11 on Inland Revenue's website, http://www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/stats/corporate_tax/ct_t11_1.htm

Pension Contribution Statistics

David Willetts: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  if he will give a breakdown of line H of the table on page 31 of the ONS Review of Pension Contribution Statistics published on 10 October between transfers within the assured sector, transfers between the self-administered and assured sector and transfers from public sector schemes;
	(2)  if he will estimate the average contribution per head of those who (a) have made contributions and (b) have had contributions made on their behalf in each of the last five years, broken down by those who have had the contributions made to (i) individual and personal pensions, (ii) self-administered occupational pension schemes and (iii) insurance-managed occupational pension schemes; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  if he will estimate the number of individuals who have made contributions or who have had contributions made on their behalf in each of the last five years, broken down by those who have had the contributions made to (a) individual and personal pensions, (b) self-administered occupational pension schemes and (c) insurance-managed occupational pension schemes;
	(4)  how much has been contributed to funded pension schemes by individuals and employers in each of the last five years, broken down by individual and personal pensions, (b) self-administered occupational pension schemes and (c) insurance-managed occupational pension schemes.
	(5)  whether the checks referred to in paragraph 2 on page 30 of the ONS Review of Pension Contribution Statistics published on 10 October had been carried out between the time the Statistical Working Group met in June and the Review was published in October; what the result was of those checks; and whether they were taken into account in providing the answer to the right hon. Member for Fylde (Mr. Jack), 29 October 2002, Official Report, column 689W;
	(6)  what deduction was made to the figure for gross contributions to allow for transfers of pension scheme assets that pass between the self-administered and insurance-managed sectors but remain within the same pension fund, when preparing the table on pages 31 and 32 of the ONS Review of Pension Contribution Statistics published on 10 October.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. David Willetts dated 19 December 2002
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent questions on pension contribution statistics. (81796, 81797, 81798, 81799, and 81801).
	Question 112—To ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will give a breakdown of line H of the table on page 31 of the ONS Review of Pension Contribution Statistics published 10th October between transfers within the assured sector, transfers between self-administered and the assured sector and transfers from public sector schemes.
	Annex B table 1 provides a framework for reconciling the gross inquiry data, provided by self-administered pension funds and insurance companies, with the total used by the Inland Revenue for contributions attracting tax relief.
	Where data are drawn from our inquiries to pension funds and insurance companies, the 2001 figures are based on smaller quarterly samples and are provisional. They are usually subject to revision when the annual benchmark data become available.
	Line H contains adjustments to exclude transfers from self-administered pension funds (d); transfers within the assured sector (c); and transfers from public sector schemes (b). In addition an adjustment is made to total pension contributions, received by UK insurance companies, to remove premiums paid to UK companies by individuals overseas (a). The adjustments, which are included in line H, are shown below:
	
		
			 Year Adjustment for UK only business Adjustments for notionally and unfounded schemes Surrenders/refunds under group/company sponsored schemes Net transfers from (+) to (-) self-administered pension funds 
			  a (#bn) b (#bn) c (#bn) d (#bn) 
		
		
			  
			 1997 0.3 0.2 7.5 0.4 
			 1998 0.3 0.2 11.1 0.9 
			 1999 0.3 0.2 14.8 -0.7 
			 2000 0.3 0.2 14.3 -2.3 
			 2001(p) 0.3 0.2 16.4 3.1 
		
	
	(p) Data for 2001 are provisional.
	The row totals may be different from the total published in Annex B, due to rounding effects.
	Question 114—To ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will estimate the number of individuals who have made contributions or who have had contributions made on their behalf in each of the last five years, broken down by those who have had the contribution made to (a) individual personal pensions, (b) self-administered occupational pension schemes and (c) insurance managed occupational pension schemes.
	The Family Resources Survey estimates of the number of individuals contributing to either personal or occupational pensions in each of the five years are given below.
	The estimates for occupational pensions can not be broken down into contributors to self-administered and insurance-managed schemes.
	
		Numbers of working age individuals building up rights to a private, occupational and personal pension (millions)
		
			  Private pension Occupational pension Personal pension 
		
		
			 FRS
			 1996–97 15.2 10.2 5.8 
			 1997–98 15.0 10.3 5.6 
			 1998–99 15.2 10.6 5.6 
			 1999–2000* 14.5 10.6 4.2 
			 2000–01* 14.5 10.9 4.0 
		
	
	Source:
	Family Resources Survey GB
	Rounding:
	All figures are rounded to the nearest 100,000
	Definitions:
	Working age is defined as 16-State Pension Age
	Private pensions:
	Numbers contributing to a private pension are all those contributing to either occupational and/or personal pension
	*Data from 1999/00 are not comparable with earlier data.
	Question 115—To ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the checks refer to in paragraph 2 on page 30 of the ONS Review of Pension Contribution Statistics published on 10th October had been carried out between the time the Statistical Working Group met in June and the Review was published in October; what the result was of those checks: and whether they were taken into account in providing the answer to the Right Honourable Member for Fylde, 29th October, Official Report, column 689W.
	The publication of the ONS Review of Pension Contributions Statistics on 10th October 2002 highlighted a number of areas where further work is necessary to improve our present data collection system. I will announce the timetable to take forward this work and the other recommendations shortly. The checks referred to in paragraph 2 on page 30 of the report will be carried out as part of that programme of work.
	The answer I gave to the Right Honourable Member for Fylde on 29th October is consistent with the data in Annex B table 1 of the report.
	Question 116—To ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will estimate the average contribution per head of those who have made contributions or who have had contributions made on their behalf in each of the last five years, broken down by those who have had the contributions made to (a) individual and personal pensions, (b) self-administered occupational pension schemes and (c) insurance-managed occupational pension schemes; and if he will make a statement.
	Whilst approximate estimates could be obtained by dividing the numbers in Question 114 into the amounts in Question 118, these would not be reliable indicators of the build-up of pension rights. Estimates of those covered by personal and occupational pensions, such as those provided in reply to Question 114, will include those covered by schemes that are unfunded, non-contributory or subject to temporary contribution holidays and so are not closely related to the amounts in Question 118.
	Question 118—To ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much has been contributed to funded pension schemes by individuals and employers in each of the last five years, broken down by individual and personal pensions, (b) self-administered occupational pension schemes and (c) insurance-managed occupational pension schemes.
	Estimates of the contributions to self-administered pension funds and premiums receivable by insurance companies related to pension business are given in the table below. Adjustments made to inquiry data to derive net flows to occupational schemes are made at the aggregate level and the apportionment between self-administered and insurance managed funds is approximate. Care, therefore, needs to be taken in interpreting these figures:
	
		# billion 
		
			  Individual and personal premiums receivable by insurance companies Group or company sponsored premiums receivable by insurance companies Contributions to self-administered pension funds less refunds 
		
		
			 
			 1997 8.2 10.5 11.6 
			 1998 9.0 14.3 11.3 
			 1999 9.4 16.2 13.7 
			 2000 10.3 18.0 15.7 
			 2001(p) 11.6 18.2 16.2 
		
	
	(p) Data for 2001 are provisional.
	This information is consistent with that provided in the answer to the Right Honourable Member for Fylde on 29th October.
	Question 119—To ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, what deduction, was made to the figure for gross contributions to allow for transfers of pension scheme assets that pass between the self administered and insurance-managed sector but remain within the same pension fund, when preparing the table on pages 31 and 32 of the ONS Review of Pension Contributions Statistics published on 10th October.
	The Pension Fund Income and Expenditure Inquiry (which collects data from Self-Administered Pension Funds) records estimates of transfers to self-administered funds from insurance managed funds and vice versa. These data are shown in column (d) of the response to question 112, above.

Postcodes

Paul Truswell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what use his Department and its agencies make of postcode areas for (a) the collection and publication of data, (b) devising formulae for the distribution of grants and awards and (c) the delivery of services; and when such usages were last reviewed.

Ruth Kelly: HM Treasury, the Government Actuary's Department, the Royal Mint, and the Debt Management Office do not currently make use of postcode areas.
	National Savings and Investments does not make use of postcode areas to collect data. Postcoded individual records are used to analyse the responses to promotional campaigns.
	The Valuation Agency does not make use of postcode areas to collect data. Postcoded addresses are used to allow the public to obtain non-domestic rating assessments and Council Tax band data on its website and for operational purposes.
	HM Customs and Excise does make use of postcode areas to collect data. A variety of postcode-based information, from a range of sources, is aggregated at regional level for operational and policy-making decisions. Usage of postcoded information data is continuously reviewed.
	Inland Revenue does not make use of postcode areas to collect data. Postcoded individual records, held for administrative purposes, are used to derive published aggregated data for other geographies.
	The Office for National Statistics (ONS) collects both social and economic data at the unit postcode level which are used to derive published aggregated data for other geographies. ONS keeps its use of unit postcodes for the collection of data under continuous review.
	None of the Departments or agencies publishes data for any postcode areas or makes use of postcode areas to devise formulae for the distribution of grants and awards.

Pre-Budget Report Leaflet

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many summary leaflets entitled Steering a steady course: Delivering stability, enterprise and fairness in an uncertain world were printed to publicise the pre-Budget report statement; and what the cost was of publication.

Ruth Kelly: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answers given to the hon. Member for Truro and St. Austell (Matthew Taylor) on 2 December 2002, Official Report, column 506W, and on 16 December 2002, Official Report, column 597W.

Programme Budgets

John Mann: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with ministers on Government Departments and their Agencies taking advantage of full end-year flexibility in relation to their programme budgets.

Paul Boateng: Since April 1999, Government Departments have had full end-year flexibility (EYF) on their Departmental Expenditure Limit budget allocation.
	The recent report of the Agency Policy Review recommended that Departments should ensure Agencies have three-year funding agreements and end-year flexibility, and report to the Treasury by the end of 2002 on their current and proposed management of EYF.

Public Sector Productivity

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what private sector benchmarks the Government use to set targets for productivity gains of public sector employees.

Paul Boateng: holding answer 17 December 2002
	The Government do not operate any benchmarks of that kind. In determining pay, it is for individual employers across the public sector to take decisions on their own pay arrangements to recruit and retain the staff they need to support the delivery of public services, within the resources available to them, taking account of their own particular circumstances and requirements. Generally, settlements above inflation can only be justified where there are specific recruitment or retention problems, or where the increases will be financed by reform and modernisation changes, including efficiency and productivity savings.

Recycling

David Hamilton: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what appraisal he has made of the case for the introduction of an incineration levy to encourage future reuse and recycling of waste.

John Healey: There is a range of issues associated with developing an effective waste management and disposal mix. The Government will therefore commission a review of the environmental and health effects of all waste management and disposal options. The Government will also consider how the use of economic instruments can be extended to provide a more comprehensive and coherent framework for waste management.

Self-assessment

Crispin Blunt: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportions of taxpayers who completed their self-assessment forms by 30 September 2002, and who are entitled to have additional tax due reflected in their PAYE code for 2003–04, have received demands for payment of the lump sum by 31 January 2003.

Dawn Primarolo: There is no legislation that entitles SA taxpayers to have underpayments collected under PAYE. However, where the taxpayer indicates that he would prefer that method, the Inland Revenue will usually be able to accommodate his wishes where:
	the SA return is received by 30 September;
	the underpayment is less than #2,000; and
	the whole amount can be included in the PAYE code in one year.
	The Inland Revenue will also try to code out underpayments arising from SA returns received after 30 September but before 30 November, but cannot guarantee it.
	Underpayments that are not coded out are included in the SA statement of account for payment on or before 31 January. The Department does not record how many underpayments are dealt with in this way where the taxpayer has indicated that he would prefer the underpayment to be coded out.
	Since October 2002, the process of coding out SA underpayments has been automated so this should happen in all appropriate cases.

Sheriff Officers

Alex Salmond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much expenditure was incurred by the Inland Revenue through using sheriff officers in each of the last three years; and what proportion of that expenditure arose as a result of incorrect call-outs based on inaccurate information supplied by the Inland Revenue.

Paul Boateng: Costs paid to sheriff officers in Scotland by the Inland Revenue in the last three years are:
	
		
			 Year ending # 
		
		
			 31 October 2000 1,292,768.04 
			 31 October 2001 1,332,079.89 
			 31 October 2002 1,904,717.72 
		
	
	No information is kept to indicate what proportion of the figures above arose as a result of inaccurate information supplied by the Inland Revenue.
	No figures are available for costs paid to sheriff officers in England and Wales.
	No costs are paid to sheriff officers in Northern Ireland.

Thalidomide

Ross Cranston: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his answer of 17 December, (ref, 87375) on the Thalidomide Trust, what categories of information on beneficiaries he holds.

Dawn Primarolo: Various Government Departments hold information on some of the beneficiaries, depending on the personal circumstances of the beneficiary concerned. In some cases this might be just a name, in others they would hold confidential information about the individual's tax affairs or health issues.

Waste Management

Phyllis Starkey: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effect of increases in landfill tax on the role of incineration in waste management strategies.

John Healey: Future increases to the standard rate of landfill tax, announced in the recent Pre-Budget Report, are intended to encourage a move away from landfill as the primary means of waste disposal, as well as to encourage greater use of recycling. It will clearly be for the market to decide what role incineration plays once the increases have taken effect.
	The recent Pre-Budget Report also announced a review of the environmental and health effects of all waste management and disposal options. The role of incineration within the waste management and disposal mix, and the case for using economic instruments, will be considered in light of this work, and in consultation with other stakeholders.

Working Families Tax Credit

David Willetts: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when take-up figures for the working families tax credit will be published, and if they will include take-up figures for child care tax credit.

Dawn Primarolo: For the first part of his question, I refer the hon. Member to my reply to him on 24 July 2002, Official Report, column 1191W.
	Reliable estimates of the take-up rate for the child care tax credit are not available as the survey data, on which take-up rate estimates are based, yield too few sample cases.

Workless Households

David Willetts: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many workless households there were in each year since 1997; how many of these are lone parent households with dependent children; and how many (a) working age people and (b) dependent children lived in these households.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. David Willetts, dated 19 December 2002
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question about workless households. (88220)
	The attached table gives the information requested for the March to May period of each year from 1997 to 2002. These estimates are from the Labour Force Survey (LFS).
	
		Workless working-age households(3), United Kingdom, March to May 1997 to 2002 -- Thousand(4)
		
			 March to May of each year Workless working age households(3) Workless lone parent households with dependent children(5) Working-age people in workless households Dependent children in workless households(6) 
		
		
			 1997 3,271 732 4,719 2,163 
			 1998 3,237 762 4,634 2,156 
			 1999 3,158 751 4,491 2,086 
			 2000 3,070 689 4,323 1,896 
			 2001 3,063 684 4,333 1,830 
			 2002 3,133 703 4,412 1,889 
		
	
	(3) Households that include at least one person of working age (i.e. a woman aged 16–59 or a man aged 16–64) where no-one is in employment. Includes estimates for households with unknown economic activity.
	(4) Not seasonally adjusted
	(5) Households that include a lone parent family unit, with or without others.
	(6) Dependent children aged under 16.
	Note:
	These Labour Force Survey (LFS) estimates are Not Seasonally Adjusted (NSA) and have not been adjusted to take account of the recent Census 2001 results.
	Source:
	ONS Labour Force Survey

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Car Dumping

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on her policy on controlling the dumping of cars in cities.

Michael Meacher: Statutory notice periods have been reduced so that abandoned and unlicensed vehicles can be removed from the highway more quickly. Local authorities can now use DVLA's powers to wheelclamp and remove unlicensed vehicles after 24 hours.
	The 2002 Finance Act includes outline powers to create a system of continuous registration. This will make it increasingly more difficult for keepers of abandoned vehicles to evade their responsibilities.

Coastal Erosion

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on her action to deal with coastal erosion.

Alun Michael: Total Government funding on flood and coastal defence has risen from #312 million in 1997–98 to a projected #564 million in 2005–06. This is a substantial increase and is proof of this Government's continuing commitment to maintenance and improvement of our flood and coastal defences.

Bee-keeping

Lawrie Quinn: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the impact of EC Directive 92/65 on British bee-keeping.

Alun Michael: Where it applies, Directive 92/65 sets out the animal health requirements for trade in and imports into the Community of bees. Its main effect has been to help control the spread of American foulbrood, a notifiable disease of bees throughout the European Community.

Illegal waste

Mark Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what advice she has given to the Environment Agency on its measures to deal with illegal carriage of waste and disposal by illegal campers.

Michael Meacher: No specific advice has been provided to the Environment Agency on measures to deal with illegal carriage of waste and disposal by illegal campers. However, a voluntary protocol has been agreed between the Agency, the local government association and the fly tipping forum on dealing with fly tipping incidents.

Water Framework Directive

Phil Sawford: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what action her Department is taking to implement the water framework directive.

Elliot Morley: The Water Framework Directive has to be transposed into national law by December 2003. The Government published the second of three consultation papers on 29th October 2002, which consults on the key policy issues to transposition and implementation and a third consultation paper, with draft transposing Regulations and an updated Regulatory Impact assessment will be published by Defra next year. The Environment Agency will play a key role in implementation of the Directive as the Xcompetent authority". My officials are working closely with the Agency to ensure that implementation deadlines will be met.

Agricultural Wages Board

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent representations she has received on the future of the Agricultural Wages Board.

Alun Michael: Since the Agricultural Wages Board last met on 29 August and following the NFU's regrettable withdrawal from the Board—now retracted—my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has received 36 letters from members of this House concerning the future operation of the Agricultural Wages Board.

Dairy Sector

David Heath: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make a statement on the profitability of the dairy sector.

Elliot Morley: The profitability of the dairy sector in the UK has been adversely affected by low farmgate milk prices. The reasons for these low prices are complex, but include high levels of production earlier in the year combined with the effects of low world prices for dairy commodities. The average farmgate price of milk has recovered from its seasonal low in May, but it is still too low for many dairy farmers to be able to maintain the level of investment required to sustain their businesses.
	The prices negotiated between farmers and purchasers, or indeed processors and retailers, are private commercial matters in which the Government cannot get involved. Nevertheless, I do welcome the recent price rises announced by major retailers and dairy processors and hope that these will help alleviate some of the difficulties faced by dairy farmers. The Government can influence the environment in which price negotiations take place through the mechanisms of the dairy CAP and, during the period of lowest prices, we actively supported measures taken in Brussels to support Community markets and encourage exports.
	For the longer term we believe that a sustainable future for dairy farming is best secured through taking forward the recommendations in the Report of the Policy Commission on the Future of Food and Farming, together with the Milk Task Force Report, and this is reflected in our Sustainable Farming and Food Strategy, launched on 12 December. My noble Friend, the Lord Whitty, has convened a number of meetings of an informal dairy supply chain group, including representatives of dairy farmers, which has addressed issues of concern to those in the dairy supply chain that came out of these reports. This group is also likely to consider how the industry can best address any lessons that emerge from the ongoing KPMG study on the structure of the UK dairy sector and milk pricing, commissioned by the Milk Development Council.

Warm Front Scheme

Harold Best: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many homes in Leeds, North-West have benefited from the Government's warm front scheme.

Alun Michael: The Scheme Manager for the area, TXU Warm Front Ltd., has confirmed that between June 2000 and 9 December 2002, 10,096 households in the Leeds local authority area received assistance through Warm Front. The information is not identified by constituency.

20-day Rule

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the effects of the 20 days animal movement rule on reducing the spread of animal infections.

Elliot Morley: In line with the FMD Inquiry recommendations, a detailed risk assessment and cost-benefit analysis of the 20-day standstill is currently being carried out. We hope to be able to publish the emerging findings early in the new year.

Earth Summit

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on steps being taken by her Department to meet the outcomes of the Earth Summit in Johannesburg.

Michael Meacher: Defra is committed to take forward the commitments made at the Johannesburg Summit as part of our wider effort to promote sustainable development. In doing so, we shall focus particularly on those commitments for which we have lead responsibility in Government. A grid that sets out the key commitments from Johannesburg and indicates which Departments lead on these has been deposited in the Library of the House.

Flood Plains

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in which of the areas affected by flooding in autumn 2000, it is her Department's proposal that the main solution is the removal of buildings on flood plains.

Elliot Morley: Defra provides grant to local operating authorities for flood defence capital works that meet certain criteria. However responsibility for deciding which projects to promote and their timing rests with the operating authorities.
	The information requested is not readily available from all operating authorities. The Environment Agency advise that they are not aware of any specific proposals to buy properties in the floodplain and remove them, following the autumn 2000 floods as the solution to flooding.
	However, some flood protection schemes involve property acquisition to allow defences to be built, and in some areas where effective flood alleviation is difficult then the long-term solution may be relocation outside the flood risk area as buildings reach the end of their useful life.

British-produced Food

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps her Department is taking to promote British-produced food.

Alun Michael: Defra promotes the export of British produced food through sponsorship of and grant in aid to Food from Britain, which also assists with the marketing of regional speciality foods. As part of the Strategy on Sustainable Farming and Food, published recently, we will be introducing a new structure and additional support for regional food initiatives.

Waste Refrigerators

Evan Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment she has made of the ability of local authorities to deal with waste refrigerators.

Michael Meacher: Special Grant Report No 109 was laid in Parliament on 14 November. The report, which was debated by the House on 16 December, details the proposed allocation to the relevant receiving authorities of the #40 million allocated this year to assist with the disposal of refrigerators. These allocations will be given to relevant local authorities shortly, and with this money, local authorities will be well equipped to deal with waste refrigerators.

Farmers (Entry-level Payments)

Paddy Tipping: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whom she has consulted about the proposed entry level scheme for payments to farmers; and how the scheme links with other agri-environmental schemes.

Michael Meacher: In March this year my Department held an initial public consultation on agri-environment schemes in England, including the Policy Commission's recommendation for an entry level scheme. We received over 130 responses, and the analysis of the responses is available on the Defra website at: http://defraweb/erdp/schemes/landbased/review/consultnew.htm
	Since then we have worked closely with a wide range of stakeholder organisations on developing the pilot for the entry level scheme. These include:
	Association of Local Government Archaeological Officers, Association of National Park Authorities, Country Land and Business Association, Countryside Agency, Environment Agency, English Heritage, English Nature, Farmcare, Game Conservancy Trust, Hill Farms Initiative, Local Government Association, National Farmers Union, National Trust, Royal Society Protection of Birds, Tenant Farmers Association, The Wildlife Trusts/Link, and the Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group.
	The conclusions of this work have led to the document on the proposed future framework for agri-environment schemes in England that was issued for consultation earlier this week. This document is available on the Defra website at: http://defraweb/corporate/consult/current.htm

Coastal Protection

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs at how many public inquiries on coastal protection proposals her Department has been represented in the last year for which information is available.

Elliot Morley: Defra officials held one local hearing in 2001–02 to consider views on unresolved objections to coast protection works proposed by local authorities.

Bovine TB

Paul Farrelly: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what evidence has been obtained to establish a link between badgers and bovine tuberculosis.

Elliot Morley: The Krebs Review of bovine TB in cattle found compelling evidence that badgers are a significant source of infection for cattle. However, the relative contribution that badgers and other wildlife make to the disease is unknown. The ongoing badger culling field trial was designed by the Independent Scientific Group on Cattle TB (ISG) to evaluate what role, if any, badgers play in the transmission of bovine TB to cattle, and whether badger culling is an effective or sustainable bovine TB control mechanism. It will provide epidemiological data on the occurrence and prevalence of TB in badgers, its relationship to population density and social group size and the spatial relationship between TB-infected badgers and TB breakdowns in cattle herds.
	The ISG have advised that it is too early for a full analysis of results. It is a basic rule for scientific trials that results are not published prematurely. However, it has been possible to complete a preliminary analysis of the risk factors associated with cattle TB, and this is set out in the ISG's Third Report, available in the House Library.

CAP

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had with her French and German counterparts regarding the mid-term review of the Common Agricultural Policy.

Margaret Beckett: I have regularly spoken to my French and German counterparts about reform of the Common Agricultural Policy during recent meetings of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council. I also met my German opposite number on this subject on 24 October and plan to meet my French counterpart early in the new year.

Countryside Stewardship Scheme

Alan Hurst: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the total area of farm holdings is in England and Wales which are part of the Countryside Stewardship Scheme; and if she will make a statement.

Alun Michael: The Countryside Stewardship Scheme operates in England, whereas the equivalent scheme in Wales, Tir Gofal, is the responsibility of the Welsh Assembly. The total area of land under agreement in the Countryside Stewardship Scheme is approximately 338,000 hectares, not including the 2002 application round.

Farmers (Retirement)

John Grogan: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans she has to introduce a means-tested retirement scheme for farmers.

Alun Michael: We have no plans to introduce an early retirement scheme for farmers. The Government agrees with the findings of the Policy Commission on the Future of Farming and Food that a retirement incentive scheme would not offer value for money. However, as suggested by the Commission, Defra is developing a supporting pack of advice for farmers considering retirement, in consultation with stakeholders. The pack should be available by June 2003.

Fuel Poverty Advisory Group

Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the report of the fuel poverty advisory group.

Alun Michael: My right hon. Friend, the Lord Whitty, has only recently received the Fuel Poverty Advisory Group's first annual report and will be making a full assessment of it in due course.

Recycling

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what (a) guidance and (b) advice is provided to Government Departments regarding the disposal of (i) printer cartridges and (ii) mobile phones;
	(2)  what support her Department (a) provides and (b) plans to provide to (i) local authorities and (ii) charitable organisations regarding the recycling and reuse of (A) mobile phones and (B) printer cartridges;
	(3)  what the total (a) volume and (b) number of printer cartridges (i) purchased and (ii) disposed of in the UK was in each year since 1990.

Michael Meacher: holding answer 11 December 2002
	There are around 90 million mobile phones in use and being stored the UK, and around 15 million of these are replaced every year. The majority of these are set to be reused or recycled through schemes such as FoneBack to which the main mobile phone companies are members. A number of phones are also being refurbished and sold to eastern Europe, Asia and Africa where there is a strong second hand market. In addition to this, the recently finalized text of the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive sets a 75 per cent. target for the recovery and 65 per cent. target for the recycling of separately collected mobile phones.
	The average office printer uses around a dozen printer cartridges a year, while a home printer uses around five. There are currently a number of businesses and charities that will collect printer cartridges when they are disposed of and send them for re-manufacturing. The text of the WEEE Directive encourages the design of equipment for recycling in general, and prioritises the re-use, recycling and recovery of WEEE so as to reduce the disposal of waste. Under the Directive producers of electrical and electronic goods will be responsible for the recovery, treatment and environmentally sound disposal of their equipment.
	The Directive does not cover consumables such as printer cartridges when they are discarded separately. Devices are sometimes inserted into such consumables to prevent their reuse. The Department is therefore looking at effective measures to reduce this.
	Guidance and advice will be developed and provided to Government Departments, local authorities and charitable organisations on the disposal, recycling and reuse of mobile phones and printer cartridges as part of the implementation of the WEEE Directive.

Spending Review

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list for her Department (a) those Comprehensive Spending Review 1998 targets that were outstanding at the time of the statement on the Comprehensive Spending Review 2002, (b) progress on such targets since then and (c) the expected date when targets not yet achieved will be met.

Alun Michael: The Department published progress against all its outstanding PSA targets in its Departmental Report 2002 (Cm 5422) and Autumn Performance Report 2002 (Cm 5698).

Technetium-99

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to her written statement of 11 December 2002, Official Report, columns 20–22WS, on technetium-99, whether THORP produces technetium-99 wastes; what evidence she considered when assessing whether the continued reprocessing of Magnox and thermal oxide spent fuel at Sellafield was justified; and when she expects to consider the question whether to undertake a review of justification under Article 6(2) of Directive 96/29/Evratom.

Margaret Beckett: THORP does produce technetium-99 wastes, but these account for a small fraction of the totality of technetium-99 discharges from the Sellafield site. By far the largest proportion of technetium-99 discharges from that site originate from the reprocessing of Magnox spent fuel.
	We have considered the information that has been provided by the Environment Agency in its published documents, and information that has been provided in the form of representations both to the Agency and directly to Ministers concerning technetium-99. We have concluded that as discharges of technetium-99 constitute only one small aspect of the practice of Magnox spent fuel reprocessing and the practice of spent oxide fuel reprocessing, it would be more appropriate to consider whether their justification should be reviewed when considering the other radioactive discharges that arise from those practices.
	With regard to the reprocessing of spent Magnox fuel, the Environment Agency has carried out a separate review of the remaining radioactive discharges from the Sellafield site (other than technetium-99), including those from Magnox reprocessing and, in August, published its proposed decision for Ministers to consider. We intend to come to a view on the Agency's proposals, and come to a conclusion as to whether it is necessary to review the practice of Magnox reprocessing as to justification in the spring of next year.
	With regard to the reprocessing of spent oxide fuel, the Government set out the position with respect to the continued operation of THORP in the White Paper on Managing Nuclear Energy which was published in July 2002. If and when any proposals for new contracts for THORP are received, the Government will review the range of issues involved in increasing the current volume of oxide fuel to be reprocessed. One of those issues will be the appropriateness of carrying out a review of the practice of reprocessing spent oxide fuel.

Thailand

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what commitments concerning agricultural produce the Government has entered into as part of or in association with the trade agreement reached in October with Thailand.

Margaret Beckett: holding answer 19 November 2002
	I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him on 21 November 2002, Official Report, column 218W.

Water Directive

David Borrow: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she is taking to ensure the timely implementation of the water directive.

Margaret Beckett: Much work is already in hand. We published the second of three consultation papers this October and a third is planned for next year. The Environment Agency are also gearing up for implementation.

PRIME MINISTER

Christmas Expenses

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Prime Minister how many departmental Christmas cards he intends to send in 2002; how much these cards will cost (a) to buy, (b) to post and (c) in staff time to sign, address and place in envelopes; and if he will place in the Library a sample copy of the official Christmas card he has sent this year.

Tony Blair: I shall be sending 1,260 official Christmas cards which cost #267. The despatch and staff time for posting those cards is made in accordance with the departmental guidance on financial procedures and propriety, based on the principles set out in XGovernment Accounting".

Christmas Security

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Prime Minister how much will be spent on (a) entertaining, (b) Christmas decorations and (c) other festive activities this Christmas season by his Department and Government agencies answerable to his Department; and of this sum how much will be spent in ministers' (i) private offices and (ii) official residences.

Tony Blair: No public money will be spent on entertaining and other festive activities this Christmas. Around #2,500 will be spent on Christmas decorations for official purposes, and is made in accordance with the departmental guidance on financial procedures and propriety, based on the principles set out in XGovernment Accounting".

European Policy

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Prime Minister whether his speech in Cardiff on 28 November 2002, entitled XA Clear Course for Europe", represents Government policy towards the European Union; and whether the (a) Foreign Office, (b) DTI and (c) Cabinet colleagues were consulted on the speech before delivery.

Tony Blair: Yes.

European Policy

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on (a) the occasion and (b) the audience of his speech in Cardiff of 28 November 2002 entitled XA Clear Course for Europe".

Tony Blair: I spoke to an audience which included business people, community leaders and political representatives to set out the Government's policy towards the European Union, and in particular its position on the debate surrounding the Convention on the Future of Europe.

TRANSPORT

Aircraft Security

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what measures have been put in place within the air traffic control system to deal with the threat posed to civil aircraft by surface-to-air missiles;
	(2)  what recent advice the Government have provided to British civilian airlines on counter measures to deal with surface-to-air missiles;
	(3)  what discussions he has had with allied countries about the threat posed to civil aircraft from surface to air missiles;
	(4)  what consultations he has had with defence contractors about the development of counter measures against surface-to-air missiles for civil airliners;
	(5)  what plans he has to introduce regulations for the introduction of counter measures for civil aircraft to deal with surface-to-air missiles.

David Jamieson: holding answer 17 December 2002
	Appropriate action has been taken and we are giving urgent consideration to the issues in conjunction with other relevant parties.

Christmas Expenses

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many departmental Christmas cards he and his Ministers intend to send in 2002; how much these cards will cost (a) to buy, (b) to post and (c) in staff time to sign, address and place in envelopes; and if he will place in the Library a sample copy of the official Christmas card he has sent this year.

David Jamieson: We shall be sending up to 800 departmental Christmas cards at a cost of #731 + VAT, in accordance with practise over very many years. This expenditure is made in line with the departmental guidance on financial procedures and propriety, based on the principles set out in Government Accounting. A sample copy of the official Christmas card has been placed in the Libraries of the House.

Christmas Expenses

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much will be spent on (a) entertaining, (b) Christmas decorations and (c) other festive activities this Christmas season by his Department and government agencies answerable to his Department; and of this sum how much will be spent in ministers' (i) private offices and (ii) official residences.

David Jamieson: The information requested is not available centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However, all expenditure incurred on decorations, entertainment and any other festive activities is strictly for official purposes only, and is made in accordance with the departmental guidance on financial procedures and propriety, based on the principles set out in Government Accounting.

Dredging

Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the effect on the environment of dredging in the Dee Estuary.

David Jamieson: My Department is currently considering an application from the Port of Mostyn for consent to dredge in the Dee Estuary outside their harbour limits. The applicants have produced an Environmental Statement assessing the impacts on the environment resulting from the dredge and this is currently being advertised and is available for inspection locally. Representations about the application and associated Statement can be made to the Department before January 12th 2003 and we are also seeking comments from specific bodies in the area who have environmental responsibilities. Wirral Borough Council is one of these.

Highway Maintenance

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what funding has been allocated to local authorities for highway maintenance for each financial year from 1997–98 to 2005–06 (a) in total and (b) for each local authority;
	(2)  what support was given by his Department to local authorities (a) in total and (b) for each authority, in each financial year since 2000–01 for roads maintenance and repair, broken down by different sources of this funding; and what changes are planned in the next 10 years to the level of funding.

David Jamieson: Before 2000–01 capital allocations were made under the TSG/TPP system. Since then allocations have been made under the Local Transport Plan system. Details of capital funding for English local authorities outside London for the years 1997–98 to 2004–05 have been placed in the Libraries of the House. Capital funding for maintenance in London is a matter for the Mayor.
	Revenue funding for highway maintenance is provided through Revenue Support Grant (RSG). RSG is an unhypothecated grant provided to Local Authorities to enable them to carry out their functions; local authorities can choose to spend this on any services for which they have responsibility, subject to local spending priorities. The amounts provided for highway maintenance within the national totals for RSG in the years 1997–98 to 2004–05 are set out in the table.
	
		Highway maintenance revenue funding between 1997–08 and 2004–05  -- # million cash
		
			 Year Local roads revenue 
		
		
			 1997–98 1,658 
			 1998–99 1,721 
			 1999–2000 1,763 
			 2000–01 1,859 
			 2001–02 1,905 
			 2002–03 1,955 
			 2003–04 2,005 
			 2004–05 2,055 
		
	
	The Government is committed to halting the deterioration in local road condition by 2004 and to eliminating the backlogs in carriageway, footway, bridge and street lighting maintenance by 2010. Over #30 billion for local road maintenance is being provided over the timescale of the 10-year Transport Plan.

M6

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the economic impact of traffic congestion on the M6.

David Jamieson: The consultants gave consideration to this aspect of the MidMan Multi Model study. A copy of this report can be found in the House of Commons Library.
	In response to its recommendations, the Secretary of State for Transport last week announced that the widening of the M6 between junctions 11a and 19 will be progressed. It is expected that the Highways Agency will add a scheme to its Targeted Programme of Improvements during the first half of 2003.

Motorway (South Preston and Warrington North)

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what part of the motorway between South Preston and Warrington North will remain three lanes; and which council areas will be affected;
	(2)  what plans he has to make the Warrington North to Preston South section of the M6 four lanes; and what plans and costings have been carried out of the four lanes proposal.

David Jamieson: I have asked the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency, Tim Matthews, to write to the hon. Member.
	Letter from Tim Matthews to Mr. Lindsay Hoyle, dated 19 December 2002
	The Transport Minister has asked me to write to reply to your recent questions about plans for the M6 motorway between Warrington North and Preston South.
	There are currently no proposals to make the Warrington North to Preston South section of the M6 four lanes. However as the Secretary of State said last week we do keep these matters under review. You also asked for confirmation of which council areas are affected by this route. The M6 passes through the Boroughs of Warrington, Wigan, St. Helens, Chorley and the City of Preston.
	You may be interested to note that the Agency is currently progressing a Route Management Strategy (RMS) on the M6 between Junction 20 at Lymm to the Scottish Border as part of our 10-year plan to make best use of this route. Early investigations on the RMS have identified congestion problems during the peak periods especially between Junctions 24 and 28. However, further study work is needed before we can incorporate any local network schemes into the RMS management plan.
	We expect to hold Public consultation on the draft RMS during spring next year. I will write to you again nearer the time with more details. In the meantime if you need any further information, please contact the Highways Agency's Regional Manager for Network Strategy in the North West, Malcolm Roberts, at Sunley Tower, Piccadilly Plaza, Manchester, M1 4BE, Tel: 0161 930 5668.

New Roads

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many miles of new (a) motorways and (b) trunk roads have been constructed in each of the last five years.

David Jamieson: I have asked the chief executive of the Highways Agency, Tim Matthews, to write to the hon. Member.
	Letter from Tim Matthews to Mr. Nigel Evans, dated 19 December 2002
	I have been asked by David Jamieson to reply to your recent parliamentary question asking how many miles of new motorways and trunk roads have been constructed in each of the last five years.
	In England a total length of 68.31 miles of new motorway and 139.86 miles of new trunk road have been constructed over the last five years. More detailed information is shown in the table below.
	
		Miles 
		
			  Motorways Trunk road  
			 Year of completion Newly constructed Widened Upgraded from APTR Newly constructed Widened 
		
		
			 1997–98 11.37 12.5 13.125 46.875 18.06 
			 1998–99 0 7.94 13.125 12.375 7.875 
			 1999–2000 0 0 0 24.75 2.5 
			 2000–01 10.25 0 0 13.75 0 
			 2001–02 0 0 0 0 0 
			 2002–03 0 0 0 1.8 11.875 
			 Sub total 21.62 20.44 26.25 99.55 40.31 
			 Grand total 68.31 139.86  
		
	
	I hope that this is helpful. If you would like more information, Graham Rainbow of the Programme Planning and Development team, would be pleased to help. He can be contacted at our offices at Broadway, Broad Street, Birmingham B15 1BL, or by telephone on 0121 678 8008.

Redhill Aerodrome

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  if he intends to include a proposal to develop Redhill Aerodrome in his consultation on airport capacity in the South East; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  if he will make a statement on road links to Redhill Aerodrome;
	(3)  what representations the Department has received regarding plans for the development of a major airport based at Redhill Aerodrome; and if he will make a statement;
	(4)  what estimate he has made of the effect on air movements at Gatwick Airport of the development of an international airport at Redhill Aerodrome capable of transporting (a) 2.6 million and (b) 15 million passengers per year;
	(5)  what proposals he has received regarding the development of Redhill Aerodrome as a major passenger airport; and if he will publish them.

David Jamieson: As a response to The Future Development of Air Transport in the United Kingdom (South East) Consultation Redhill Aerodrome Limited lodged on 13 December a submission that includes proposals to develop a new stand-alone passenger airport on the existing aerodrome site.
	We will make publicly available in due course all responses to the consultation, except those marked confidential. In the mean time publication is a matter for the authors.
	As part of the early SERAS analysis two options for the development of Redhill as an adjunct to Gatwick airport were considered. Details of this work are contained in Chapter three of the Stage One appraisal findings report. Following the conclusion of the first stage of the SERAS study, Ministers decided that these options would not be taken forward for more detailed assessment in the latter stages of the study.
	My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport announced to Parliament on 28 November that the consultation on airports capacity will be extended until we have consulted on proposals in respect of Gatwick. Those who have already responded to the consultation will be able to amend, add to, or replace their response having considered the new document. We will set out our plans for the remaining stage of the consultation process when we publish the further consultation paper in the new year.

Road Improvements (Yorkshire)

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will include ways of improving traffic flows on both A614 and A165 in the further studies on road improvements in Yorkshire announced on 10 December.

John Spellar: The further studies on road improvements in Yorkshire announced by the Secretary of State in the Statement on Transport Investment on 10 December refer to the two Multi-Modal studies that have been undertaken in the Yorkshire and the Humber region: the South and West Yorkshire Multi-Modal Study (SWYMMS) and the Hull East-West Corridor Multi-Modal Study (HUMMS), on which Ministers expect to take decisions next year. Neither of these relate to the A614 or A165 roads over any of their lengths.
	The A614 and A165 roads are the responsibility of East Riding of Yorkshire Council as local highway authority and the Government allocates funds annually to local authorities to spend on their transport infrastructure.

Road Signs

Joan Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to introduce metric distance signs on roads; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: The position remains as set out in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Gloucester (Mr. Dhanda) on 11 July 2002, Official Report, column 1116W.

Spending Review

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list for his Department (a) those Comprehensive Spending Review 1998 targets that were outstanding at the time of the statement on the Comprehensive Spending Review 2002, (b) progress on such targets since then and (c) the expected date when targets not yet achieved will be met.

John Spellar: holding answer 17 December 2002
	My Department published on Tuesday progress against all its outstanding PSA targets in XDelivering Better Transport: Progress Report."

Surface-to-air Missiles

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how he assesses the threat posed to British civil airlines from surface to air missiles; and what actions he proposes to take.

David Jamieson: The Government believe that the terrorist threat to UK interests, including civil aviation, both in the UK and overseas, is a very real one, and has taken a range of actions to manage the risk. So far as the threat to civil airlines from surface to air missiles is concerned, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given today.

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

Firefighters' Dispute

David Crausby: To ask the Solicitor-General what role the Attorney-General plays in relation to the firefighters' dispute.

Harriet Harman: The Attorney-General has the power to apply to the Court for an injunction to prevent threatened breaches of the criminal law. This power is to be exercised in the public interest, which is exercised in independent judgment in the role as Attorney-General rather than as a member of Government. Such an application is always exceptional and is only instituted where there is the prospect of genuine, serious and irreparable harm and is judged that it is in the public interest to make the application.
	It is the Attorney-General's duty to keep under constant review the question whether to exercise this power. In order to determine where the public interest lies he may consult as he has been doing with ministerial colleagues to ensure that he is properly informed as to the public interest consultations arising. The Attorney has been informed also of the views of fire authority representatives in relation to the potential threat to public safety. But the power to apply for an injunction is one for the Attorney-General to exercise in the public interest and the decision is for him alone.

Postcodes

Paul Truswell: To ask the Solicitor-General what use her Department and its agencies make of postcode areas for (a) the collection and publication of data and (b) the delivery of services; and when such usages were last reviewed.

Harriet Harman: Neither my Department nor its agencies make use of postcode areas data.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Christmas Expenses

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many departmental Christmas cards he and his ministers intend to send in 2002; how much these cards will cost (a) to buy, (b) to post and (c) in staff time to sign, address and place in envelopes; and if he will place in the Library a sample copy of the official Christmas card he has sent this year.

Jack Straw: I sent 905 Christmas cards at a cost of:
	a) #932.95;
	b) #97.20 to post 360 first class. 415 cards were sent through the FCO diplomatic bag and a further 130 via the government mail system. There was no separate charge for this;
	c) #301.22 for an A2 to spend 4 working days updating and amending the database throughout the year, ordering the cards and sending them out.
	Dr. MacShane sent 250 cards in 2002 at a cost of:
	a) #175;
	b) #16.20 to post 60 first class. The remaining 190 were sent through the FCO diplomatic bag;
	c) #160 for an A2 to spend 17 hours updating and amending recipient details, ordering the cards and sending them out.
	Baroness Symons sent 451 cards in 2002 at a cost of:
	a) #315;
	b) #114.75 to post 425 first class. The remaining 26 were sent through the FCO diplomatic bag or via the government mail system;
	c) #184.80 for an A2 to spend 20 hours updating and amending recipient details, ordering the cards and sending them out.
	Mr. O'Brien sent 185 cards (106 Christmas cards, 79 Bid cards) in 2002 at a cost of:
	a) #129.50;
	b) #15.12 to post 56 first class. The remaining 129 were sent through the FCO diplomatic bag or via the government mail system.
	c) #337.50 for a B3 to spend 32 hours updating and amending recipient details, ordering the cards and sending them out.
	Mr. Rammell sent 225 cards at a cost of:
	a) #157.50;
	b) #27.54 to post 102 first class. 29 were sent through the FCO diplomatic bag and a further 94 via the government mail system;
	c) #129.36 for an A2 to spend 14 hours sending out the Christmas cards.
	Baroness Amos sent 380 cards at a cost of:
	a) #266;
	b) #67.77 to post 251 first class. 56 were sent through the FCO diplomatic bag and a further 73 via the Government mail system;
	c) #206.01 for an A2 to spend 27 hours updating and amending recipient details and sending out the Christmas cards. And 22.50 for a B3 to spend two hours sending out Christmas cards.
	A sample copy of my and all other ministers Christmas cards will be placed in the Library of the House.
	My cards were ordered through Card Aid which donates all profits to charity. #205 will be donated to UNICEF this year. All other ministers choose their cards from the official FCO selection. The profits of the official FCO card are split between the FCO Welfare Fund and the Diplomatic Families Association Emergency Welfare Fund.
	All expenditure incurred in the purchase and dispatch of official cards is made in accordance with the departmental guidance on financial procedures and propriety, based on the principles set out in Government Accounting.

Citizenship Applications

Mr. Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs where records of applications for registration as a citizen of the UK and its colonies submitted at the British Embassy in the former colony of Aden in 1970 have been retained; and whether they can be inspected by members of the public.

Mike O'Brien: Applications for registration as a citizen of the UK and colonies, which were submitted to the British Embassy in Aden in 1970 would have been forwarded to the Home Office for consideration. Copies of these applications were not retained at the British Embassy. Any enquiries about individual cases should be made to the Home Office.

European Union

Mr. Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the acquisition of full legal personality by the European Union.

Denis MacShane: Recognition of the legal personality of the Union would have the advantage of clarity and simplicity. But if the European Union were to have its legal personality recognised in the European treaties it could only be on the basis that the distinct arrangements for common foreign and security policy, and aspects of justice and home affairs were fully safeguarded, along with the existing arrangements for representation in international bodies. The Government would need to be sure that the necessary safeguards were in place before taking a decision on this issue.

Iraq

David Heath: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which British (a) individuals and (b) companies were identified in the Iraqi declaration to the United Nations Security Council as having supplied arms, weapons-related technology or material to Iraq, giving in each case (i) the nature of the arms, technology or material supplied and (ii) the date of supply.

Mike O'Brien: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Newport West (Paul Flynn) on 17 December UIN 87497.

Oil Revenues

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the volume is of unspent oil revenues allocated for Iraqi Kurdistan in the escrow account of the UN oil-for-food programmes; and what the reasons are for withholding aid to Iraqi Kurdistan.

Mike O'Brien: holding answer of 16 December 2002
	As of 11 December US$3.3 billion of 'Oil For Food' revenue remained unallocated by Iraq in the UN escrow account. US$1.2billion of the revenue allocated to the UN humanitarian programme in northern Iraq is currently unspent.
	The Iraqi regime has consistently obstructed improvements in northern Iraq, delaying the arrival of de-mining equipment that could save lives and denying visas to UN personnel involved in essential humanitarian projects. It has also restricted the distribution of food and medicines to northern Iraq.

Sandy Mitchell

John Lyons: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what talks he has had with the Saudi Arabian government on the imprisonment of a constituent, Sandy Mitchell.

Mike O'Brien: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary, and ministerial colleagues have raised the cases of Mr. Mitchell and the other British men detained in Saudi Arabia at the highest levels with the Saudi authorities. We remain deeply concerned about these cases. The men's welfare is our paramount concern. We continue to work tirelessly to resolve the cases. We are in close contact with the Saudi authorities and the men's lawyers. We also continue to make consular visits to the men.

Uzbekistan

Greg Pope: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last discussed human rights with representatives of the Government of Uzbekistan.

Mike O'Brien: When I last met the Uzbek Ambassador on 4 September, I raised human rights. The Permanent Under Secretary also raised human rights issues with Uzbek Foreign Minister Kamilov in London in September. Officials raise the subject regularly, most recently with the Uzbek Ambassador on 16 December. The UK also makes representations with the EU wherever possible and was recently part of an EU delegation making representations to Deputy Foreign Minister Safaev on the deaths of two prisoners, apparently due to torture. We also make statements on human rights issues, both with the EU and bilaterally: our Ambassador made a strong speech in October at the opening of the Freedom House NGO in Tashkent, while in December the EU made a statement protesting about the unfair trial of Iskander Khudaiberganov.

PRIVY COUNCIL

Christmas Expenses

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the President of the Council how many departmental Christmas cards he and his ministers intend to send in 2002; how much these cards will cost (a) to buy, (b) to post and (c) in staff time to sign, address and place in envelopes; and if he will place in the Library a sample copy of the official Christmas card he has sent this year.

Robin Cook: 700 Christmas cards (in three different designs) were purchased for my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary and me to send at a total cost of #763.75. These cards were bought in aid of The Children's Society and Amnesty International. The postage cost is some #70; the majority of cards were sent via the Inter-Departmental Service or parliamentary mail. Some 10 hours staff time was spent in addressing and despatching the cards; the gross salary costs for this work were some #75. Sample copies of these cards have placed in the Library.
	Given the hon. Member's interest in this matter, I will include him on my Christmas card list for next year.

Christmas Expenses

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the President of the Council how much will be spent on (a) entertaining, (b) Christmas decorations and (c) other festive activities this Christmas season by his Department; and of this sum how much will be spent in Ministers' (i) private offices and (ii) official residences.

Robin Cook: This Christmas, the Privy Council Office (PCO) spent #2,112 on entertaining, #15 on decorations and nothing on other festive activities. The expenditure on entertaining was accounted for by my traditional Christmas party, held to thank all those (hon. Members, parliamentary clerks, officials and others) who helped me in my capacity as Leader of the House. All PCO expenditure was Department-wide, and nothing was spent in Ministers' private offices or in official residences.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Amateur Sports Clubs

John Greenway: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the impact of introducing 80 per cent. mandatory rate relief for all community amateur sports clubs via the Local Government Bill; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the proportion of community amateur sports clubs that would qualify for mandatory rate relief under the provisions of the Local Government Bill; and if he will make a statement.

Christopher Leslie: The Local Government Bill does not include provisions for introducing 80 per cent. mandatory rate relief for community amateur sports clubs and so no assessment has been made of the impact of introducing such a scheme.
	There is also no estimate available of the proportion of community amateur sports clubs that would qualify for mandatory rate relief under the provisions in the Local Government Bill. Community amateur sports clubs would benefit from the rate relief scheme for small businesses in the Local Government Bill. The scheme would provide mandatory rate relief of up to 50 per cent. for properties with rateable values of up to #3,000. For larger properties the percentage of relief would gradually taper off, with no relief for properties with rateable values above #8,000.
	Local authorities may grant up to 100 per cent. relief at their discretion to community amateur sports clubs that qualify under the new mandatory relief scheme for small businesses.
	The rating lists do not record the use of property by voluntary or community amateur sports clubs as distinct from other sports clubs. The rating lists for England include about 16,000 sports properties, including those used by community amateur sports clubs as well as professional and commercial sports bodies. Of the 16,000 sports properties in England, around 7,500 have rateable values of under #3,000 and a further 4,000 have rateable values above #3,000 and below #8,000.
	As explained in the White Paper XStrong Local Leadership—Quality Public Services", which was published in December 2001, mandatory rate relief is already available for all premises used wholly or mainly for charitable purposes, provided that they meet the criteria for charitable status. The Charity Commission announced in November 2001 that they will recognise as charitable purposes Xthe promotion of community participation in healthy recreation by the provision of facilities for the playing of particular sports", and Xthe advancement of the physical recreation of young people not undergoing formal education".
	Where individual clubs do not meet the Charity Commission's criteria, or where they decide not to seek charitable status, local authorities retain discretion to grant rate relief to any non-profit making body. Local authorities have the power to grant relief where it is in the interests of local council taxpayers for them to do so. We have recently published on our website, revised guidance for local authorities and ratepayers on rate relief for charities and other non-profit making organisations.
	In addition to this specific assistance, the Government has also introduced a tax package (legislated for in Finance Bill 2002), which will provide a range of tax reliefs for community amateur sports clubs on their income and on the donations which local people make to support them. The tax package follows that outlined in the XPromoting Sport in the Community" consultation document—mandatory rate relief was not part of the tax package which was consulted upon. The Government believes that the tax package and the option of charitable status, together with the help available for clubs under the non-domestic rating system, represent a generous system of support sports clubs.

Asylum Seekers (Rough Sleeping)

Simon Hughes: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the impact on the number of rough sleepers of the coming into effect of section 55 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylums Act 2002 on 8 January 2003; what steps he has taken to address change in the number of rough sleepers after that date; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 10 December 2002
	I have been asked to reply.
	The purpose of the new policy is to ensure that those wishing to seek asylum do so at the first practical opportunity on arrival in the United Kingdom. If that purpose is fulfilled, there is no reason to suppose that the coming into force of section 55 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 will result in an increase in the number of rough sleepers.

Bain Inquiry

John McDonnell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much is to be paid to the individual members of the Bain Inquiry into the fire service.

Nick Raynsford: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to my hon. Friend, the Member for Glasgow, Kelvin (Mr. Galloway) on 9 December 2002, Official Report, column 129W.

Bain Inquiry

John McDonnell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the cost is of the Bain Inquiry into the Fire Service.

Nick Raynsford: The estimated cost of the independent review of the Fire Service chaired by Professor Sir George Bain is #468,000.

Business Co-ordination Unit

Tim Loughton: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when a Minister from his Department last visited a business in (a) West Sussex and (b) East Worthing and Shoreham as part of the work of the Business Co-ordination Unit.

Christopher Leslie: The Business Co-ordination Unit have not arranged any Office of the Deputy Prime Minister ministerial visits to either West Sussex or East Worthing and Shoreham since the creation of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.

Business Improvement Districts

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what systems he has assessed for voting in relation to business improvement districts; and how the Government proposes to ensure that the system is simple.

Christopher Leslie: Clause 52 of the Local Government Bill, which was introduced into Parliament on 25 November, sets out the rules governing the BID ballot. A successful ballot will have to meet two tests. Firstly a simple majority of those voting in the BID ballot must vote in favour. Secondly, those voting in favour must represent a majority by rateable value of the hereditaments (rateable properties) of those voting. This Xdual-key" mechanism means that a scheme cannot be forced through by large firms against the wishes of small firms, or vice versa.
	Secondly, Clause 57 of the Local Government Bill gives my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister the power to make regulations on the timing of BID ballots, the non-domestic ratepayers entitled to vote in the ballot, the question to be asked in the ballot, the form the ballot will take, the persons who are to hold ballots, and how the ballots are to be conducted. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is holding discussions with representatives of local authorities, rating professionals and members of the business community to ensure that the rules on voting are as simple as possible, while safeguarding the interests of those who will be liable to pay the BID levy.

Christmas Expenses

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many departmental Christmas cards he and his Ministers intend to send in 2002; how much these cards will cost (a) to buy, (b) to post and (c) in staff time to sign, address and place in envelopes; and if he will place in the Library a sample copy of the official Christmas card he has sent this year.

Christopher Leslie: In accordance with the conventions followed by all administrations the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister shall be sending out up to 1,820 Office of the Deputy Prime Minister Christmas cards, purchased for a total cost of #1,364.40 plus VAT. It is Office of the Deputy Prime Minister policy to send mail by second class post where ever possible. Ministers will sign the cards and they will be placed in envelopes and sent out by Office of the Deputy Prime Minister staff as part of their normal duties. Sample copies of the cards have been placed in the Library of the House, All expenditure incurred in the purchase and despatch of official Christmas cards is made in accordance with the departmental guidance on financial procedures and propriety, based on the principles set out in XGovernment Accounting".

Christmas Expenses

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much will be spent on (a) entertaining, (b) Christmas decorations and (c) other festive activities this Christmas season by his Department and government agencies answerable to his Department; and of this sum how much will be spent in ministers' (i) private offices and (ii) official residences.

Christopher Leslie: Any expenditure incurred on decorations, entertainment and any other festive activities is strictly for official purposes only, and is made in accordance with the departmental guidance on financial procedures and propriety, based on the principles set out in XGovernment Accounting".
	The information requested is not held centrally, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Deprivation

Dave Watts: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will indicate the level of deprivation which exists in each local council area.

Barbara Roche: A table showing how local authority districts in England are ranked, relative to each other, on the Index of Multiple Deprivation 2000 (IMD 2000) has been placed in the Library of the House. All 354 local authority districts (as at April 1998) are ranked with the most deprived authority being given a rank of 1.
	Patterns of deprivation are complex—in some areas the entire district may be generally deprived but with no severe areas, while elsewhere deprivation may be concentrated in very severe pockets, which coexist alongside generally affluent areas. The IMD 2000 has reflected these different patterns through six different measures that are all equally valid. The six measures are:
	The concentration measure tells us how severe deprivation is in each authority's 'hot spots' of deprivation;
	The extent measure is the percentage of each district's population that live in one of the 10 per cent. most deprived wards in England;
	The 'average scores' and 'average ranks' are the average level of deprivation across the entire district;
	The income scale and employment scale measure how many people suffer from income and employment deprivation respectively.
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is currently involved in a project to consider options for strengthening and updating the Indices of Deprivation 2000 (ID 2000). The Stage One Consultation Report contains preliminary proposals for updating the ID 2000 and is open for consultation until 15 January 2003.

Empty Homes

Edward Davey: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on his Department's performance in the disposal of empty homes in the last year for which figures are available.

Tony McNulty: The Fire Service College, an Executive Agency of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, owns 39 residential properties, which are kept to house staff on secondment to the College. Currently, a small number of properties are not required for staff use and are let on short-term tenancies. One property is currently empty and due to be let by the end of January.

Fire Services

Lynne Jones: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many (a) deaths and (b) serious injuries as a result of fire there were in each of the last five years; and what proportion occurred (i) between 11pm and 6 am and (ii) during the hours of darkness.

Nick Raynsford: The number of deaths and/or injuries by the time of the fire is tabled below. Data are shown for 1997 to 2001 (the last five years of data available).
	Data relating to the severity of injury resulting from fire are not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Information is collected on the type of injury but not the severity of those injuries.
	It is not possible to identify separate data relating to the hours of darkness.
	
		Deaths and injuries from fires by time of day(7), 1997–2001
		
			Proportion occurring between 11pm and 6am Rate per 1,000 fires between 11pm and 6am Proportion occurring between 6am and 11pm Rate per 1,000 fires between 6am and 11pm  
			  Deaths Injuries Deaths (%) Injuries (%) Deaths Injuries Deaths (%) Injuries (%) Deaths Injuries 
		
		
			 1997 723 18,583 35 31 5 124 65 69 3 83 
			 1998 656 18,198 33 30 5 117 67 70 3 83 
			 1999 623 18,198 29 30 3 103 71 70 3 77 
			 2000 623 17,640 34 31 4 100 66 69 2 74 
			 2000(8) (595)  
			 2001 627 17,288 32 30 3 89 68 70 3 71 
			 2001(8) (606)  
		
	
	(7) The time of day is denoted as the time the emergency call was received by the local authority fire brigade.
	(8) The 2000 and 2001 data for fatalities are estimated to account for the revisions as later information is received. Calculations are based on the provisional total of deaths.

Firefighters' Dispute

John Barrett: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the average response time to emergency fire calls during (a) the recent firefighters' strike and (b) full firefighter cover.

Nick Raynsford: During the Fire Brigade Union strike between 22 and 30 November 2002, 10,793 fire-related incidents were dealt with by the armed forces and 1,367 by firefighters working for local authority fire brigades. The armed forces' remit was to ensure that all incidents were dealt with where there was a confirmed threat to life (Category A) or a possible threat to life (Category B). In the event, all non-life threatening (Category C) incidents were also attended. An analysis of serious fire-related incidents (mostly Category A) in the north-west of England showed an average response time by the armed forces of 7.2 minutes. The figure for serious incidents in London was 13.8 minutes, largely reflecting traffic problems; and in the south-west, which is a largely rural area, the average response time for serious incidents was 14.2 minutes. These figures are not directly comparable with Fire Service data as fire brigades' target response times are based on four risk categories, ranging from five minutes for main shopping and business centres to 20 minutes for rural areas. Nevertheless, they do demonstrate the highly professional job performed by the armed forces.

Firefighters' Dispute

John Barrett: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many emergency fire calls were not answered during the recent firefighters' strike.

Nick Raynsford: During the Fire Brigades Union strike from 22 to 30 November 2002, 30,278 fire-related 999 calls were received by the Joint Operational Control Centres. All such telephone calls were answered. Because of multiple calls per incident, this gave rise to 20,237 incidents. Around five per cent. of calls were filtered out immediately as not being emergencies, and advance police attendance turned back firefighter response in around 40 per cent. of cases. The armed forces therefore attended 10,793 incidents, and firefighters working for local authority fire brigades attended 1,367 incidents. All fire related incidents which required a firefighter response were attended.

Green Belt (West Midlands)

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what measures are in place to retain the green belt areas in the West Midlands.

Tony McNulty: Government policy on the Green Belt throughout England remains, as set out in Planning Policy Guidance Note (PPG) 2, which states that protecting the countryside from encroachment is one of the main purposes of including land in the Green Belt.
	PPG 2 continues to require that local authority development plans include a strict presumption against inappropriate development in the Green Belt.
	Green Belt designations can only be established or altered through development plans. Once approved Green Belts should only be altered in exceptional circumstances. If such an alteration were proposed, the Secretary of State would then wish to be satisfied that the authority has considered opportunities for development within urban areas before allowing it to take place.

Home Ownership

Edward Davey: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 3 December 2002, Official Report, column 711W, what assessment he has made of the ability of each group to access home ownership.

Tony McNulty: Many teachers, health workers and police are experiencing difficulties in accessing home ownership in London, the south-east and other housing hot spots. Starter Home Initiative scheme managers assess each applicant's circumstances and provide assistance only to those key workers who would not otherwise be able to buy their own home within a reasonable travelling distance of their work place. Over 1,500 teachers, health workers and police have been assisted through the Starter Home Initiative to date.

Homelessness

Oona King: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what proportion of lettings were made available to homeless households in priority need by (a) local authorities and (b) registered social landlords, broken down by (i) region and (ii) local authority area in 2000–01.

Tony McNulty: Information reported by local authorities in England on their Housing Investment Programme returns in respect of lettings of their stock, and nominations to that of registered social landlords, made during 2000–01 has been placed in the Library.

Homelessness

Anne Campbell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much was given to Cambridge City Council towards relieving homelessness in each of the last five years.

Barbara Roche: Funding to local authorities for the provision of homeless services is allocated through Revenue Support Grant (RSG) as part of the annual local government finance settlement. RSG is unhypothecated to particular services and up to the current financial year was calculated on the basis of standard spending assessments for individual local authorities. It is for each local authority to decide how much RSG it receives, and its other resources, should be directed towards any particular service. Voluntary Agencies working with Cambridge City Council received almost #900,000 to tackle rough sleeping from 1999–2000.

Housing (Black and Minority Ethnic People)

Oona King: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what research he has commissioned into the use of rent assessment panels by BME tenants in the private rented sector, following the recommendation in the DTLR (Housing Directorate) Action Plan, XAddressing the Needs of BME People"; and what steps he will take to address the problems that have been identified.

Tony McNulty: To date, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has not commissioned any research into the use of Rent Assessment Panels (RAPs) by BME groups. The Action Plan, Xaddressing the housing needs of BME people", made it clear that an examination of the use of RAP's would be subject to resources and other priorities.
	Priority is currently being given to the implementation of the Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act 2002, including measures affecting the leasehold valuation tribunals, which are made up of the RAPs by BME groups will be undertaken after the anticipated completion of the implementation of the Act on spring 2003.

Housing (Black and Minority Ethnic People)

Oona King: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what proportion of (a) African, (b) Afro-Caribbean, (c) Chinese and Vietnamese, (d) Bangladeshi, (e) Indian and (f) Pakistani households are in overcrowded accommodation.

Tony McNulty: If overcrowding is measured by the 'bedroom standard' from Survey of English Housing data, averaged over the last three years (1999–2000, 2000–01, 2001–02), the estimated percentages of households in overcrowded accommodation (i.e. one or more bedrooms below the standard) are: (a) African 15 per cent., (b) Afro-Caribbean 6 per cent., (c) Chinese 7 per cent., (d) Bangladeshi 30 per cent., (e) Indian 7 per cent. and (f) Pakistani 22 per cent. The corresponding percentages for other ethnic groups are : white 2 per cent., 'other black groups' 9 per cent., and 'mixed and other ethnic groups', including Vietnamese, 9 per cent.

Housing Associations

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans he has to help local authorities (a) promote stock transfer and (b) improve council tenants' knowledge of housing associations.

Tony McNulty: Local authorities should involve tenants fully in any decisions about the future ownership and management of their homes. This includes both appraisal of the options available to achieve the decent home standard, and development of the chosen investment option.
	If housing transfer is the option chosen, tenants should be involved in choosing the successor housing association. Information about the housing association sector is available from the Housing Corporation and the National Housing Federation. The local authority and the tenants' independent adviser should also familiarise tenants with the work of local housing associations.

Housing Need (Somali Community)

Oona King: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what information his Department has collated on the housing needs and experiences of the Somali community in the UK.

Tony McNulty: The information requested is not collated centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Local Government Finance

Dave Watts: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much in grants the Government is proposing to allocate to each local authority.

Christopher Leslie: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister announced details of the allocation to individual authorities of the #43.9 billion of Revenue Support Grant, Business Rates and Principal Formula Police Grant in 2003–04 on Thursday 5 December. Details were also announced on the same day of most of the grants for specific Personal Social Service's initiatives as set out in the Department of Health letter to local authority social services' departments (LASSL(2002)11). In addition local education authorities have received information on allocations for most of the Standards Fund in the circular XThe Standards Fund 2003–04", and the Housing Benefit (HB) and Council Tax Benefit (CTB) circular XHB/CTB S8/2002" provided councils with their 2003–04 allocations for HB/CTB Administration Subsidy. Local authorities will also already have received their indicative Neighbourhood Renewal Fund allocations for 2003–04. Departments will be announcing remaining grants as soon as possible.

Local Government Finance

Paul Truswell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what use his Department and its agencies make of postcode areas for (a) the collection and publication of data, (b) devising formulae for the distribution of grants and awards and (c) the delivery of services; and when usages were last reviewed.

Christopher Leslie: I will write to my hon. Friend as soon as the necessary information is collated.

Local Government Finance

Dave Watts: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when the proposed floors and ceilings in the new funding system for local government will be removed.

Christopher Leslie: As my right hon. Friend the Member for Greenwich and Woolwich (Mr. Raynsford) made clear in his statement to the House on 5 December 2002, Official Report, column 1079, we expect floors and ceilings to be part of the system indefinitely.

Local Government Finance

Dave Watts: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the level of council tax rates in each authority.

Christopher Leslie: Council tax levels in each authority in England are already published. Figures for each financial year since its introduction in 1993–94 are available from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's website at www.local.dtlr.gov.uk/finance/ct.htm.

Local Government Finance

Dave Watts: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much each local authority has spent below its SSA in the current financial year.

Nick Raynsford: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to the Member for the Isle of Wight (Mr. Turner) on 18 December 2002, Official Report.

Local Government Finance

Dave Watts: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the impact which the new local government funding system will have on each authority's council tax levels.

Christopher Leslie: Decisions on council tax are for local authorities to take, after consulting with their local electorate and taxpayers.

Local Government Finance

Dave Watts: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister by how much each local authority will be over and under funded if his Department's new proposed funding changes for local government are introduced.

Christopher Leslie: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister no longer takes the view that a grant distribution formula can represent Government's view on what councils need to spend. The proposed new formula grant distribution system aims to reflect the relative cost of service provision. This year, for the first time, The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister will also ensure that all authorities receive a grant increase of more than inflation. Since both formula spending shares and floors and ceilings are simply parts of the system which distributes a fixed pot of grant, all authorities will receive their correct share.

Local Government Finance

Michael Foster: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  in the local government finance proposed settlement for 2003–04, for what reason Worcestershire is combined with Herefordshire in the assessment of area cost adjustment;
	(2)  under the proposed local government finance settlement for 2003–04 on what basis he calculated that Dudley receive area cost adjustment.

Christopher Leslie: The area cost adjustment has been calculated on pre-1995 county boundaries and pre-1986 metropolitan county boundaries (though counties bordering London are divided into fringe and non-fringe areas). This means that all unitary authorities (including Herefordshire) and all metropolitan districts (including Dudley) receive the same area cost adjustment as the county or metropolitan county of which they were formerly a part. Not only does this help to reduce complexity, but it ensures that the area cost adjustment calculations are robust and stable from year to year. This is because New Earnings Survey sample sizes for individual unitary and metropolitan district authorities are relatively small.

Local Government Finance

David Kidney: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans he has to include an element of resource equalisation in local government settlements from 2004–05 onwards.

Christopher Leslie: Resource equalisation has been an element of the local government grant distribution system since the mid-1970's. It will remain so for the foreseeable future.

Local Sport

John Greenway: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans he has to make sport a statutory duty for local authorities; and if he will make a statement.

Richard Caborn: I have been asked to reply.
	I have no such plans. Local authorities are key providers of sport and recreation and play a central role in the delivery of sport in and for the community. It is through the continuous assessment and improvement of local services through processes such as the comprehensive performance assessment and statutory duties such as Best Value that we can safeguard and bring the highest standards to non-statutory services such as sport and recreation. The Local Government Act 2000 also gives authorities new powers to promote or improve the economic, social or environmental well-being of their area, including the provision of sport and recreational opportunities.

Overcrowded Housing

Oona King: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister on how many occasions since 1985 he has (a) received a report from a local housing authority and (b) directed a local housing authority to prepare and submit a report on the extent of overcrowding in their district, under section 334 of the Housing Act 1985; and what action was taken in each instance.

Tony McNulty: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. As far as the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is aware, the powers in section 334 of the Housing Act 1985 have not been used by local authorities or the Deputy Prime Minister in recent years.

Planning Applications

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to his answer of 3 December 2002, Official Report, column 688W, on planning applications, what will happen to the planning applications not dealt with within 16 weeks from close of inquiry to decision.

Tony McNulty: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister always aims to issue a decision as soon as possible. However, the target recognises that, due to the complex nature of some cases or the impact of unforeseen circumstances, a proportion of them will not be dealt with within the 16 week period following the close of the inquiry.

Right to Buy Scheme

Oona King: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many appeals against the valuation of a property being sold under the right to buy scheme were submitted in London in each year since 1992, broken down by local authority.

Tony McNulty: The following table, compiled by the Valuation Office Agency, which carries out all determinations of appeals under the statutory Right to Buy scheme in England and Wales, shows determinations made in each London borough between 1 January 1992 and 30 November 2002.
	
		Right to Buy cases in London boroughs-Between 1 January 1992 and 30 November 2002
		
			 Local authority/case type 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 
		
		
			 Barking and Dagenham   
			 LA 56 33 22 15 31 9 
			 RSL 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Total 56 33 22 15 31 9 
			
			 Barnet   
			 LA 32 20 12 9 7 6 
			 RSL 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Total 32 20 12 9 7 6 
			
			 Bexley   
			 LA 18 15 11 4 13 10 
			 RSL 2 3 2 1 0 0 
			 Total 20 18 13 5 13 10 
			
			 Brent   
			 LA 52 37 21 16 27 33 
			 RSL 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Total 52 37 21 16 27 33 
			
			 Bromley   
			 LA 24 6 4 4 1 0 
			 RSL 0 1 0 0 0 0 
			 Total 24 7 4 4 1 0 
			
			 Camden   
			 LA 318 168 84 65 69 124 
			 RSL 0 0 0 10 0  
			 Total 318 168 84 66 69 124 
			
			 City of London   
			 LA 5 7 7 10 4 2 
			 RSL 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Total 5 7 7 10 4 2 
			 Croydon   
			 LA 12 13 6 3 4 7 
			 RSL 3 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Total 15 13 6 3 4 7 
			
			 Ealing   
			 LA 96 46 22 17 25 8 
			 RSL 0 0 0 0 0 3 
			 Total 96 46 22 17 25 11 
			
			 Enfield   
			 LA 31 19 26 9 15 8 
			 RSL 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Total 31 19 26 9 15 8 
			
			 Greenwich   
			 LA 178 194 111 133 118 112 
			 RSL 3 3 8 0 0 0 
			 Total 181 197 119 133 118 112 
			
			 Hackney   
			 LA 110 63 35 31 39 55 
			 RSL 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Total 110 63 35 31 39 55 
			
			 Hammersmith and Fulham   
			 LA 55 30 7 17 25 34 
			 RSL 0 0 0 1 0 0 
			 Total 55 30 7 18 25 34 
			
			 Haringey   
			 LA 45 26 15 15 19 31 
			 RSL 0 2 0 0 0 0 
			 Total 45 28 15 15 19 31 
			
			 Harrow   
			 LA 11 7 3 1 1 2 
			 RSL 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Total 11 7 3 1 1 2 
			
			 Havering   
			 LA 31 27 12 11 10 4 
			 RSL 1 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Total 32 27 12 11 10 4 
			
			 Hillingdon   
			 LA 55 26 8 5 7 19 
			 RSL 0 0 1 0 0 0 
			 Total 55 26 9 5 7 19 
			
			 Hounslow   
			 LA 40 15 10 11 10 8 
			 RSL 2 1 0 0 0 2 
			 Total 42 16 10 11 10 10 
			
			 Islington   
			 LA 307 181 101 65 48 82 
			 RSL 1 0 0 1 1 0 
			 Total 308 181 101 66 49 82 
			
			 Kensington and Chelsea   
			 LA 32 26 15 18 12 17 
			 RSL 5 0 1 3 0 0 
			 Total 37 26 16 21 12 17 
			
			 Kingston Upon Thames   
			 LA 15 4 3 1 1 3 
			 RSL 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Total 15 4 3 1 1 3 
			
			 Lambeth   
			 LA 170 69 42 52 46 143 
			 RSL 1 2 0 0 0 0 
			 Total 171 71 42 52 46 143 
			
			 Lewisham   
			 LA 63 60 26 30 21 39 
			 RSL 0 7 4 0 0 0 
			 Total 63 67 30 30 21 39 
			 Merton   
			 LA 1 2 0 3 9 8 
			 RSL 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Total 1 2 0 3 9 8 
			
			 Newham   
			 LA 38 37 21 22 22 30 
			 RSL 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Total 38 37 21 22 22 30 
			
			 Redbridge   
			 LA 6 10 5 8 8 10 
			 RSL 5 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Total 11 10 5 8 8 10 
			
			 Richmond upon Thames   
			 LA 8 12 8 9 4 7 
			 RSL 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Total 8 12 8 9 4 7 
			
			 Southwark   
			 LA 93 91 45 29 37 43 
			 RSL 0 0 0 0 1 0 
			 Total 93 91 45 29 38 43 
			
			 Sutton   
			 LA 13 11 10 5 10 3 
			 RSL 0 5 1 0 0 0 
			 Total 13 16 11 5 10 3 
			
			 Tower Hamlets   
			 LA 61 50 16 11 21 38 
			 RSL 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Total 61 50 16 11 21 38 
			
			 Waltham Forest   
			 LA 33 11 14 14 7 14 
			 RSL 0 0 0 0 0 1 
			 Total 33 11 14 14 7 15 
			
			 Wandsworth   
			 LA 29 18 28 29 18 29 
			 RSL 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Total 29 18 28 29 18 29 
			
			 Westminster   
			 LA 35 7 6 20 17 14 
			 RSL 1 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Total 36 7 6 20 17 14 
			
			 Grant total   
			 LA 2,073 1,341 756 692 706 952 
			 RSL 24 24 17 7 2 6 
			 Total 2,097 1,365 773 699 708 958 
		
	
	
		
			 Local authority/case type 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 Total 
		
		
			 Barking and Dagenham   
			 LA 12 35 20 22 5 260 
			 RSL 0 1 0 0 0 1 
			 Total 12 36 20 22 5 261 
			
			 Barnet   
			 LA 5 16 31 62 12 212 
			 RSL 0 0 0 1 0 1 
			 Total 5 16 31 63 12 213 
			
			 Bexley   
			 LA 4 3 8 6 5 97 
			 RSL 1 6 3 4 1 23 
			 Total 5 9 11 10 6 120 
			
			 Brent   
			 LA 47 79 45 35 11 403 
			 RSL 0 0 0 0 1 1 
			 Total 47 79 45 35 12 404 
			 Bromley   
			 LA 0 4 5 8 1 57 
			 RSL 0 0 0 0 0 1 
			 Total 0 4 5 8 1 58 
			
			 Camden   
			 LA 90 112 171 102 39 1,342 
			 RSL 0 0 0 0 0 1 
			 Total 91 112 171 102 39 1,343 
			
			 City of London   
			 LA 0 1 2 0 0 38 
			 RSL 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Total 0 1 2 0 0 38 
			
			 Croydon   
			 LA 7 9 15 12 4 92 
			 RSL 0 0 0 1 0 4 
			 Total 7 9 15 13 4 96 
			
			 Ealing   
			 LA 19 35 55 35 7 365 
			 RSL 0 1 0 0 0 4 
			 Total 19 36 55 35 7 369 
			
			 Enfield   
			 LA 11 23 26 28 7 203 
			 RSL 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Total 11 23 26 28 7 203 
			
			 Greenwich   
			 LA 81 104 108 103 22 1,264 
			 RSL 0 4 1 3 0 22 
			 Total 81 108 109 106 22 1,286 
			
			 Hackney   
			 LA 41 101 213 246 74 1,008 
			 RSL 0 4 3 16 6 29 
			 Total 41 105 216 262 80 1,037 
			
			 Hammersmith and Fulham   
			 LA 60 53 53 62 14 410 
			 RSL 0 3 0 1 1 6 
			 Total 60 56 53 63 15 416 
			
			 Haringey   
			 LA 26 33 33 49 22 314 
			 RSL 0 0 0 0 0 2 
			 Total 26 33 33 49 22 316 
			
			 Harrow   
			 LA 7 5 3 6 2 48 
			 RSL 0 0 1 1 0 25 
			 Total 7 5 4 7 2 50 
			
			 Havering   
			 LA 4 9 11 25 5 149 
			 RSL 0 0 0 0 0 1 
			 Total 4 9 11 25 5 150 
			
			 Hillingdon   
			 LA 12 15 22 20 3 192 
			 RSL 0 0 0 0 0 1 
			 Total 12 15 22 20 3 193 
			
			 Hounslow   
			 LA 9 21 10 50 15 199 
			 RSL 0 0 2 0 0 7 
			 Total 9 21 12 50 15 206 
			
			 Islington   
			 LA 127 186 124 121 33 1,375 
			 RSL 2 0 2 6 4 17 
			 Total 129 186 126 127 37 1,392 
			
			 Kensington and Chelsea   
			 LA 36 54 56 55 10 331 
			 RSL 0 0 0 0 0 9 
			 Total 36 54 56 55 10 340 
			
			 Kingston Upon Thames   
			 LA 6 4 5 6 3 51 
			 RSL 0 1 0 0 0 1 
			 Total 6 5 5 6 3 52 
			 Lambeth   
			 LA 152 296 196 225 44 1,435 
			 RSL 0 6 10 24 2 45 
			 Total 152 302 206 249 46 1,480 
			
			 Lewisham   
			 LA 60 74 109 159 47 688 
			 RSL 0 0 1 0 0 12 
			 Total 60 74 110 159 47 700 
			
			 Merton   
			 LA 11 10 21 14 3 82 
			 RSL 0 1 0 0 0 1 
			 Total 11 11 21 14 3 83 
			
			 Newham   
			 LA 35 33 50 50 13 351 
			 RSL 1 0 0 0 0 1 
			 Total 36 33 50 50 13 352 
			
			 Redbridge   
			 LA 15 18 20 18 6 124 
			 RSL 0 0 0 0 0 5 
			 Total 15 18 20 18 6 129 
			
			 Richmond upon Thames   
			 LA 18 46 27 13 4 156 
			 RSL 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Total 18 46 27 13 4 156 
			
			 Southwark   
			 LA 76 100 104 162 21 801 
			 RSL 0 0 2 2 0 5 
			 Total 76 100 106 164 21 806 
			
			 Sutton   
			 LA 2 6 23 19 7 109 
			 RSL 0 0 0 0 0 6 
			 Total 2 6 23 19 7 115 
			
			 Tower Hamlets   
			 LA 40 51 114 136 36 574 
			 RSL 0 8 14 19 3 44 
			 Total 40 59 128 155 39 618 
			
			 Waltham Forest   
			 LA 15 43 44 46 10 251 
			 RSL 1 0 1 1 2 6 
			 Total 16 43 45 47 12 257 
			
			 Wandsworth   
			 LA 36 45 45 49 4 330 
			 RSL 0 0 1 0 0 1 
			 Total 36 45 46 49 4 331 
			
			 Westminster   
			 LA 29 63 36 37 6 270 
			 RSL 0 0 0 0 0 1 
			 Total 29 63 36 37 6 271 
			
			 Grant total   
			 LA 1,093 1,687 1,805 1,981 495 13,581 
			 RSL 5 35 41 79 20 260 
			 Total 1,098 1,722 1,846 2,060 515 13,841 
		
	
	Note:
	Appeals determined for local authority tenants are shown as 'LA'. Those for tenants of registered social landlords (for example, housing associations) exercising the preserved Right to Buy are shown as 'RSL'.

Social Inclusion

Chris Mullin: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans he has to encourage use of public procurement contracts to achieve greater social inclusion; and if he will make a statement.

Christopher Leslie: Contracts let by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister are based on value for money, defined as the optimum combination of whole-life cost and quality (or fitness for purpose) to meet the user's requirement.
	Local authorities are independent and autonomous and responsible within law for making their own decision on procurement matters. It is for them to decide how far their procurement contracts should be used to achieve greater social inclusion. It remains the responsibility of individual local authorities to make their own judgement about the use of social considerations in procurement, consistent with domestic law, including the duty to achieve best value, and the EC legal framework.
	The European Commission has recently provided clarification on the possibilities that Community law offers public purchasers who wish to take account of relevant social considerations into public procurement procedures. This clarification takes the form of an Interpretative Communication that explains how social concerns may be taken into account at each separate stage of the contract award procedure.
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is working with the Local Government Association through the Local Government Procurement Forum to prepare guidance for local authorities on the EC Procurement Directives and how social considerations may be included in procurement exercises.

Starter Home Initiative

Edward Davey: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 3 December 2002, Official Report, column 711W, how many key workers there are in each of the groups; and how many key worker shortages there are in each group used in informing his Department of the numbers to give assistance to.

Tony McNulty: When the first Starter Home Initiative allocations were made in 2001, the broad numbers of staff in London and the south-east in each of the key worker groups were:
	c250,000 health staff, excluding senior medical staff and management;
	c120,000 teachers; and
	c40,000 police officers and 18,000 police civilian staff.
	The Department of Health, Department for Education and Skills and the Home Office advised the now Office of the Deputy Prime Minister where the Starter Home Initiative funds might best be spent to address shortages. This helped to inform allocations to organisations that submitted bids for funding.

Tenancy Deposit Scheme

Margaret Moran: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans he has to consult on making the Tenancy Deposit Scheme compulsory.

Tony McNulty: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister recently launched a consultation on options for the protection of tenancy moneys, including tenancy deposits. The prospects for legislation will be considered in the light of responses received to the consultation.

Visually Impaired Children

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what measures are in place to ensure that families with visually impaired children have the same priority as other disabled children when allocating housing; what housing improvement schemes are available for poor parents with visually impaired children; and what proposals he has to widen the availability of these schemes.

Tony McNulty: In England, housing authorities must ensure that their allocation scheme is framed so as to give reasonable preference to certain categories of persons. The categories are set out in s167 (2) of the Housing Act 1996 and include households consisting of or including someone with a particular need for settled accommodation on medical or welfare grounds, and families with dependent children. Medical grounds will include a visual impairment where it is serious enough to constitute a disability and where a settled home is required to ensure that the particular needs of the visually impaired person are met. A young person with a visual impairment is also more likely to continue to be considered as a Xdependent child" for a longer period.
	In England, a family with a visually impaired child has a mandatory right to apply for a disabled facilities grant (DFG) which is intended to help with any necessary adaptations to the home. The grant system is administered through local housing authorities who are required to consult with social services to assess the particular needs of the disabled child. The mandatory grant is subject to a maximum limit of #25,000 per application and subject to a means test.
	Under the Regulatory Reform (Housing Assistance) (England and Wales) Order 2002, local authorities have been given additional wide ranging powers which can be used to provide additional assistance with housing adaptations outside the statutory limits of the mandatory DFG system. These new powers can be used at the discretion of the local authority, which would need to allocate resources from its own budgets for this purpose.
	Home Improvement Agencies (HIAs) enable vulnerable people to maintain their independence in their own home by helping people through the process of arranging home repairs, improvements or adaptations. Also included is the direct provision of repair and maintenance services, preventative initiatives and providing advice on accessing appropriate finance.
	In recognition of the important role HIAs play in supporting independent living, Government recently announced additional funding to assist HIAs to deliver housing and health objectives. In addition to the #8.5 million currently invested, ODPM are investing an extra #5.2 million in the sector, and the Department of Health is making #9.5 million available through local authorities over the next three years.
	Issues in Scotland are a matter for the Scottish Executive.

Wandsworth Development Plan

Martin Linton: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the timetable is for Wandsworth borough council to deposit a new draft revised (second stage deposit) unitary development plan incorporating the recommendations of the Planning Inspectorate issued to the council on 6 March.

Tony McNulty: It is expected that a report will be considered by the relevant Wandsworth borough council committee early in the new year, with a view to the deposit of modifications in spring 2003.

West Midlands Regional Assembly

Peter Luff: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister which organisations he is consulting in Worcestershire as part of his soundings exercise on the possibility of holding a referendum on a West Midlands regional assembly.

Christopher Leslie: The soundings exercise that was launched by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister on 2 December 2002 invites views, information and evidence from people on the level of interest in each English region (outside London) in holding a referendum about establishing an elected regional assembly. Views are welcome from any person or organisation on this issue. The paper giving details about this exercise and inviting responses, along with a pro forma for responding, is available on the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's website. Paper copies are also available.
	With regards to Worcestershire (as for all English regions outside London), the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has written to its principal local authorities, MPs and MEPs inviting views, information and evidence. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has written similarly to the following regional bodies in the West Midlands: the West Midlands Regional Assembly (regional chamber); the West Midlands local government association; TUC Midlands region; Institute of Directors West Midland Region; Birmingham Chamber of Commerce and Industry; CBI West Midlands; West Midlands Constitutional Convention; and Sustainability West Midlands. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has, of course, written to the equivalent bodies in the other English regions outside London.
	I have placed a list of all organisations in England contacted about this soundings exercise in the Library.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Annual Reports (Production Costs)

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the cost of production was of the (a) Community Fund's Annual Report, (b) Sport England Annual Report, (c) Heritage Lottery Fund and National Heritage Memorial Fund Annual Report and Accounts and (d) NESTA Annual Report, in each of the past three years; how many copies of each report were produced; and if she will make a statement.

Kim Howells: The information requested for each organisation is set out as follows:
	
		
			  # Number of copies 
		
		
			 1999–2000   
			 Community Fund 39,144 7,300 
			 Sport England 36,251 2,000 
			 Heritage Fund 66,486 5,000 
			 NESTA 41,436 3,000 
			
			 2000–01   
			 Community Fund 86,686 7,000 
			 Sport England 35,732 2,000 
			 Heritage Fund 71,924 5,000 
			 NESTA 43,896 4,500 
			
			 2001–02   
			 Community Fund 71,362 5,300 
			 Sport England 25,671 2,000 
			 Heritage Fund 58,782 5,000 
			 NESTA 48,885 5,000

Appointments

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport to which bodies her Department makes appointments; how many members there are (a) in total and (b) in each body; and how many of those appointed are (i) businessmen, (ii) businessmen in SMEs and (iii) businessmen in micro-businesses.

Kim Howells: holding answer 16 December 2002
	I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him by my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Cabinet Office on 16 December 2002, Official Report, column 607W.

BBC

John Whittingdale: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when she will publish the revised version of the proposed changes to the BBC Agreement; and if she will make a statement.

Kim Howells: holding answer 16 December 2002
	The proposed amendments to the Agreement will be made available to the Standing Committee on the Communications Bill in time to assist the Committee's consideration of clause 193.

Broadcasting Regulations

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport which regulations govern the broadcasting of programming material by (a) digital satellite, (b) digital terrestrial, (c) digital cable and (d) broadband.

Kim Howells: The regulations which govern the broadcasting of programming material by (a) digital satellite, (b) digital terrestrial, (c) digital cable and (d) broadband are set out in the Broadcasting Acts 1990 and 1996.

Christmas Expenses

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many departmental Christmas cards she and her Ministers intend to send in 2002; how much these cards will cost (a) to buy, (b) to post and (c) in staff time to sign, address and place in envelopes; and if she will place in the Library a sample copy of the official Christmas card she has sent this year.

Kim Howells: Ministers sent 1,120 of the 3,800 Christmas cards produced by my Department this year. The design and print costs totalled #1,985, and the majority of cards were sent by second class post.
	No assessment was made of the time taken to sign, address and place cards in envelopes. However, most cards were addressed using pre-printed labels.
	I am arranging for a copy of the card, which depicts a mural produced by the Crew Art Legacy Project at the Manchester Commonwealth Games, to be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Licensing Reform

David Heath: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate she has made of the cost of the impact of the Licensing Bill on (a) churches, (b) village halls, (c) voluntary associations and (d) other non-profit-making bodies.

Kim Howells: holding answer 16 December 2002
	The Government anticipate that it will be simpler and less expensive for voluntary associations and other non-profit-making bodies to stage entertainment under the new regime. The Regulatory Impact Assessment estimates that some organisations would save around #150 million over the first 10 years. Churches, of course, have been exempt from the requirement for a public entertainment licence for music outside Greater London. Any costs would depend on the licensable activities, if any, which are undertaken and their frequency.
	However, as I stated in the House of Commons on 16 December, Official Report, column 517, the Government have made a commitment to reconsider its position on the licensing of churches and will announce our conclusions as soon as possible.

Licensing Reform

David Heath: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions took place between her Department and religious authorities as part of the consultation on licensing reform.

Kim Howells: holding answer 16 December 2002
	The White Paper XTime for Reform", published in April 2000 was the subject of a full public consultation. It was sent directly to 231 organisations and over 650 organisations produced responses. We received eight responses from religious organisations, including one from the Churches Main Committee. None of these were concerned with the proposal to licence public entertainment in churches and other places of religious worship. Since then, officials of my Department have had discussions with officials of the General Synod of the Church of England about a possible mechanism to exempt churches from licensing controls.

Licensing Reform

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of the additional costs which will be incurred by churches as a result of the provisions of the new Licensing Bill.

Kim Howells: holding answer 18 December 2002
	In the Regulatory Impact Assessment, published with the Licensing Bill, it has been estimated that an initial application for a premises licence would cost between #100 and #500, and that there would be an annual charge of between #50 and #150. Any costs would depend on the licensable activities, if any, which are undertaken and their frequency.
	However, as I stated in the House of Commons on 16 December 2002, Official Report, column 517, the Government have made a commitment to reconsider its position on the licensing of churches, and will announce our conclusions as soon as possible.

Ministerial Engagements

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many engagements were undertaken outside London (a) by her or her predecessor and (b) by ministers in her Department in January (i) 2000, (ii) 2001 and (iii) 2002.

Kim Howells: holding answer 16 December 2002
	I refer the hon. Member to the written answer given to him by my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Cabinet Office on 16 December 2002, Official Report, column 608W.

Postcodes

Paul Truswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what use her Department and its agencies make of postcode areas for (a) the collection and publication of data, (b) devising formulae for the distribution of grants and awards and (c) the delivery of services; and when such usages were last reviewed.

Kim Howells: The information is as follows:
	(a) The Department collects and publishes data which use post codes on:
	(i) awards made from National Lottery funds.
	(ii) the proportion of households living within a specified distance of a static library.
	This followed the introduction of national standards for public libraries in April 2001.
	These usages have not been reviewed.
	The Department's sole agency, the Royal Parks Agency, does not make use of
	postcode areas in collection and publication of data.
	(b),(c) The Department and the Royal Parks Agency do not use postcode areas in either devising formulae for the distribution of grants and awards or the delivery of services.

Public House Licences

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of the number of public house licence holders that will be required to undergo a Criminal Records Bureau check by regulations made under the Licensing Bill.

Kim Howells: Schedule 8 to the Licensing Bill provides that under the transitional arrangements, holders of justices' licences authorising the sale of alcohol by retail under the current licensing regime will be able to apply for personal licences under the new regime, without undergoing a Criminal Record Bureau check. If such a licence holder has been convicted of any relevant offence or equivalent foreign offence under the Bill, they would, however, be required to submit a statement giving details of that offence with their application for a personal licence. Failure to provide such a statement would be an offence under the Bill.

Spending Review

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will list for his Department (a) those Comprehensive Spending Review 1998 targets that were outstanding at the time of the statement on the Comprehensive Spending Review 2002, (b) progress on such targets since then and (c) the expected date when targets not yet achieved will be met.

Kim Howells: holding answer 17 December 2002
	The Department publishes progress against all of its outstanding PSA targets in its departmental report and autumn performance report. The most recent departmental report was published in May 2002 (Cm 5423) and the autumn performance report in December 2002 (Cm 5699).

Television Subtitling

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer given on 4 July, Official Report, column 514W, on television subtitling, whether the code produced by Ofcom relating to the provision of television services for deaf and visually impaired people will include specific guidance on the presentation of subtitles.

Kim Howells: holding answer 18 December 2002
	The code relating to the provision of television services for the deaf and visually impaired, to be produced by Ofcom, will include guidance on the technical standards to be attained for subtitling. We would expect the code to include aspects of style and presentation, as the ITC code currently does.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Appointments

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills to which bodies his Department makes appointments; how many members there are (a) in total and (b) in each body; and how many of those appointed are (i) businessmen, (ii) businessmen in SMEs and (iii) businessmen in micro-businesses.

Stephen Twigg: holding answer 16 December 2002
	I refer the hon. Member to the answer given yesterday by my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Cabinet Office.

Connexions Service

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether the Connexions Card will have an electronic purse to (a) manage payments from Education Maintenance Allowances paid by LEAs and (b) manage training allowances paid by the Learning and Skills Council.

Ivan Lewis: There are no plans for the Connexions Card to have an electronic purse for the purposes of managing payments from Education Maintenance Allowances or training allowances.

Connexions Service

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when the Connexions Card is to be launched.

Ivan Lewis: The Connexions Card is now available to all 16 to 19-year-olds in England.
	From February 2003, there will be an extensive national launch programme of activities aimed at young people across England.

Connexions Service

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many personal advisors worked for the Connexions Service in (a) 2001–02 and (b) 2002–03.

Ivan Lewis: The information in the table below shows the number of full time equivalent personal advisers who had worked for the Connexions Service in the last two years.
	
		
			 Period Number of personal advisers (full time equivalents) Number of operational Connexions Partnerships  
		
		
			 2001–02 2,175.9 15 
			 2002–03(9) 5,958.9 42 
		
	
	(9) Data available to end October 2002

Education Maintenance Allowances

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many 16 to 19-year-olds used their allowance for (a) travel costs, (b) books and equipment and (c) other living costs during the education maintenance allowance pilots; and what research has been undertaken to ascertain these figures.

Margaret Hodge: Independent evaluation of the education maintenance allowance scheme has been carried out by a consortium led by the Centre for Research in Social Policy. They have collected a great deal of data, including information on how young people spend their EMA, and this was included in the quantitative report on the first year of the scheme. The findings so far show that recipients of EMA are as likely as non-recipients to make a contribution to housekeeping costs, and more likely to pay towards the cost of transport, books and equipment for school. They spent no more than non-recipients on entertainment and were more likely to say that transport, books and equipment were their main item of expenditure.

Free School Meals

Peter Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he plans to change the criteria for qualification for free school meals; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: During the passage of the Education Act 2002, the Secretary of State made it clear that she would protect the free school meals' entitlement of families who would otherwise lose this entitlement because they cease to be entitled to income support or income based jobseekers allowance and begin receiving child tax credits instead. The new system will be slightly more generous than the old system with around 75,000 more children from low income families eligible for free school meals from April 2003.

Language Teaching

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many primary schools in the UK teach languages; how many secondary schools do not teach languages; which languages are taught in schools; what proposals he has to increase the range of languages available; what teaching there is in schools on non-European languages; and if he will make a statement.

David Miliband: A survey conducted by Warwick university estimated that around 20 per cent. of primary schools currently provide some form of language teaching.
	Secondary schools are required to offer at least one of the working languages of the EU. When schools have met this requirement they are free to offer non-European languages.
	Ofsted is not aware of any secondary schools that have no provision for language teaching.
	We do not collect data on the number of languages taught in secondary schools. However, we are aware that overall around 20 languages are offered by 157 Specialist Language Colleges including Chinese, Japanese, Urdu and Gujerati.
	Our Languages Strategy which was published on 18 December, sets out how we intend to improve the country's capabilities in language skills.

Ministerial Meetings

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when he last attended a ministerial meeting with European Union Ministers for Education.

Margaret Hodge: My right hon. Friend has not yet attended a meeting of European Union Ministers for Education. I represented the Secretary of State at the most recent meeting of the EU Education Council which was held in Brussels on 12 November.

Plant Hire

Teddy Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate he has made of the number of employees in the plant hire industry who have received educational and other benefits from the facilities provided by the Construction Industry Training Board.

Ivan Lewis: holding answer 18 December 2002
	During 2002 approximately 5,000 employees of plant hire companies received educational and other benefits through the Construction Industry Training Board.

Post-16 Funding

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what research his Department has undertaken to ascertain the extent to which school sixth form and college access funds are used for (a) travel costs, (b) books and equipment and (c) other living costs.

Stephen Twigg: The Department for Education and Skills has commissioned a two-year study by the Institute of Employment Studies to evaluate the use and effectiveness of the learner support funds in further education institutions. The interim report was made available in April 2001 and can be accessed via the DfES website at: www.dfes.gov.uk (young people/further education funding support/report). Publication of the final report is expected in spring 2003.
	The interim research found that 81 per cent. of further education institutions use learner support funds to subsidise travel costs. Around 40 per cent. of the available funding is spent on transport services and residential provision.
	A total of 367,055 awards were made in 2000–01. The table shows the number of awards made against the three categories.
	
		
			  Number of awards 
		
		
			 Transport 83,714 
			 Books and equipment 81,837 
			 Other (inc. living/general) 37,474

Postcodes

Paul Truswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what use his Department and its agencies make of postcode areas for (a) the collection and publication of data, (b) devising formulae for the distribution of grants and awards and (c) the delivery of services; and when such usages were last reviewed.

David Miliband: Wherever possible, the Department and its agencies collect information on an on-going basis on the postcode of usual residence of individual learners and/or place of learning to facilitate the compilation of statistics on education and skills at various geographical levels—for example, local education authorities and coalfield areas. Some of these statistics are then used with others as a basis for funding allocations—for example, postcodes are used to obtain a measure of resident pupils, one factor in calculating Education Formula Spending Shares. The Department is fully committed to working closely with the Office for Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) and others to produce better information for small areas. This will allow DfES and other Government Departments to develop and evaluate locally targeted policies and interventions as well as helping to tackle Neighbourhood Renewal.

Progress Files

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of secondary schools have used Progress Files for pupils aged 13 and over in (a) 2001–02 and (b) 2002–03.

David Miliband: The proportion of secondary schools which have ordered Progress File materials for pupils aged 13 and over is approximately 25 per cent. in 2001–02 and 40 per cent. in 2002–03 academic years to date.

School Funding

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what criteria will be used to allocate the new fund to assist schools applying for specialist status which have encountered difficulties in raising funds.

David Miliband: My Department has not yet finalised the criteria for the allocation of the Partnership Fund. The criteria will be based around evidence that the school has made a real effort to raise sponsorship and that, although they have not been able to get the required level of private sector funding, the school has created other valuable links with businesses.
	The full criteria for the allocation of the funds will be set out in due course.

School Transport

Huw Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will issue new guidelines to local education authorities on school transport contracts on overcrowding and use of seatbelts.

Charles Clarke: As my hon. Friend is aware, from 1 November 2001, seat-belts had to be fitted on all new minibuses, coaches and buses (apart from those specifically designed for urban use with standing passengers). There are no regulations governing the use of seat belts in buses. However, my Department's current guidance does refer to RoSPA's 1991 code of practice on school transport safety, and says that
	XLEAs should encourage contractors, drivers, parents, pupils and schools to observe the code, and especially its recommendation that seatbelts should be worn where fitted."
	The Department has not issued guidelines to local education authorities on overcrowding. The regulations that govern seating and standing on all buses are the Public Service Vehicles (Carrying Capacity) Regulations 1984, the Public Service Vehicles (Conditions of Fitness, Equipment, Use and Certification) Regulations 1981, as amended, and the Public Service Vehicles (Conduct of Drivers, Inspectors, Conductors and Passengers) Regulations 1990. Enforcement of regulations relating to carrying capacity and safety of buses rests with the Police and the Vehicle Inspectorate. I am not aware of any prosecutions for overcrowding on services involving school transport.
	We have no immediate plans to issue further guidance to LEAs on school transport at this stage.

Visually Impaired Children

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what measures are in place to ensure that visually impaired children have access to adequate primary and secondary education; and what proposals he has to assist visually impaired children at school.

Ivan Lewis: Responsibility for making suitable provision for children with special educational needs, including those with visual impairment, rests in the first instance with schools and local education authorities (LEAs). The nature and extent of provision is decided locally in the light of the circumstances and individual needs of each child. In making provision, schools and LEAs must have regard to the Department for Education and Skills (DfES), Special Educational Needs Code of Practice, which provides practical guidance to schools and LEAs on their responsibilities and promotes consistency of approach.
	Since September 2002, LEAs and schools have had a duty to ensure that disabled pupils are not treated less favourably, without justification, than non-disabled pupils; and to make reasonable adjustments so that disabled pupils are not put at a substantial disadvantage to their non-disabled pupils. In England and Wales there is also a duty on LEAs and schools to plan strategically and make progress in increasing physical accessibility to schools' premises and to the curriculum. The DfES has issued guidance on the new duty, Accessible Schools: Planning to increase access to schools for disabled pupils.
	Substantial funding has been provided, and continues to be provided under the Schools Access initiative to improve access for disabled children—#70 million in 2002–03, increasing to #100 million for each of the next three years, 2003–06.
	In addition, in 2002–03 a total of #91 million was made available to LEAs and schools to support the needs of pupils with SEN and disabilities and vulnerable children from the DfES Standards Fund. The same level of funding will be available in 2003–04. The fund can be used for training, including training leading to mandatory qualification for teachers of pupils with visual impairment.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Accreditation

Mark Field: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his Department is doing to support the Government's policy on accreditation.

John Denham: Under Sections 40 and 43 of the Police Reform Act 2002, it is now open to chief officers in all 43 police forces in England and Wales, and the British transport police, to set up a community safety accreditation scheme in their area. Individuals able to meet agreed high standards could then be accredited with certain low level police powers to enable them to tackle anti-social behaviour and environmental problems in the local communities where they work.
	The setting up of such a scheme is entirely a matter for the chief officer concerned but a number are taking the necessary steps towards setting up a scheme in their area. In order to help them, and other interested parties, we shall shortly be putting some general accreditation guidance on the police reform website showing interested parties the kind of standards which will be necessary for accreditation.
	We shall continue to show support for accreditation schemes by offering advice and guidance, as required. Towards the end of next year we plan to issue a code of practice based on the good practice that has developed.

Air Weapons

Greg Pope: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce a licensing scheme for the purchase of air weapons.

Bob Ainsworth: We are considering a range of options for dealing with the problem of air weapon misuse. I hope shortly to be in a position to put forward proposals.

Air Weapons

Greg Pope: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will raise the age limit for the use of air weapons to 18 years.

Bob Ainsworth: We are considering a range of options for dealing with the problem of air weapon misuse including possible changes to existing age limits. I hope shortly to be in a position to put forward proposals.

Children's Rights

Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the report on the UK by the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child.

John Denham: We are currently considering the recommendations of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child. The Committee's recommendations are extremely wide-ranging, and relate to many aspects of Government policy. Lead Departments across Whitehall, together with the devolved Administrations, are considering how to take the Committee's comments into account in future work, and we will consider the Committee's recommendations carefully in developing our overarching strategy for children and young people.

Community Support Officers

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department to what extent each local authority has used powers under Section 33 of the Police Act 1966 to help fund new community support officers; and how many such officers are employed.

John Denham: holding answer 12 December 2002
	There was no Police Act for England and Wales in 1966. Over #19 million was made available for the recruitment of more than 1,000 Community Support Officers (CSOs) in England and Wales during this financial year. Twenty seven police forces and authorities made bids for a share of this fund and we were able to offer some funding to all of them.
	We continue to work with police forces and authorities to develop their implementation plans and are encouraging them to discuss with potential funding partners, such as local authorities, how further CSOs might be funded in the future.
	At present there are 215 CSOs patrolling the streets of Westminster, Newham and Tower Hamlets. Lancashire Constabulary introduced 20 CSOs to their force area on 16 December.

Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to reply to the letter to him dated 31 October from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr. S. Pickup.

David Blunkett: I wrote to my right hon. Friend on 18 December 2002.

Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to reply to the letter to him dated 4 November from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mrs. Nazia Butt.

Beverley Hughes: I wrote to my right hon. Friend, on behalf of my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary, on 12 December 2002.

Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to reply to the letter to him dated 4 November from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr. Kahim Salam Mahmud.

Beverley Hughes: I wrote to my right hon. Friend, on behalf of my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary, on 12 December 2002,

Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to reply to the letter to him dated 24 October from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr. Nisar Ahmed.

Beverley Hughes: I wrote to my right hon. Friend on 17 December 2002.

Crime and Antisocial Behaviour

Geraldine Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what funding the Government have made available for community support officers in Lancashire since the initiative began;
	(2)  what steps he is taking to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour in Morecambe.

John Denham: The Government is committed to tackling crime and anti- social behaviour. Morecambe, as part of the Lancaster Crime and Disorder Partnership, will benefit from the schemes designed to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour throughout the area. Morecambe has received #16,000 from the Safer Communities Initiative to fund an alleygating scheme in a crime hotspot to reduce access to the rears of both residential and commercial properties. The Small Retailers Scheme has provided #7,541 to provide such items as locks, grills and to improve lighting for 30 shops in the Morecambe area.
	In August 2002 a street warden scheme providing 10 wardens was introduced to help tackle environmental and physical problems in the area, vehicle crime, anti-social behaviour and juvenile nuisance.
	Lancashire Constabulary has made a successful bid for #946,477 to employ 72 community support officers by 31 March 2003. The posting of Community Safety Officers within Lancashire will be an operational matter for the Chief Constable to decide.

Crime and Antisocial Behaviour

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many arrests have been made in Chorley in the last 12 months; and which custody suites have been used.

John Denham: Information on the number of arrests for notifiable offences is collected centrally at police force area level only. Available information shows that in 2001–02 (latest available) there were 41,715 arrests for notifiable offences within the Lancashire police force area.
	According to Lancashire constabulary records, 2,848 persons were arrested in the Chorley borough of South Ribble, Lancashire in the year ending July 2002. Of these 88 per cent. were lodged at Leyland custody suite and 12 per cent. were lodged at Skelmersdale custody suite.

Crime and Antisocial Behaviour

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what steps he is taking to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour in Chorley;
	(2)  what Government funding has been made available for community support officers in Chorley; and how many officers it has provided.

John Denham: The Government is taking a number of steps to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour in all areas of the country. Lancashire is one of the forces involved in the street crime initiative. Other initiatives such as safer communities and the crime reduction programme have also made an important contribution.
	The Police Reform Act 2002 contains a number of measures to address crime and anti-social behaviour, including changes to improve the effectiveness of Anti-Social Behaviour Orders and the creation of Community Support Officers (CSOs).
	Lancashire Constabulary have made a successful bid for #946,477 to employ 72 community support officers by 31 March 2003.
	In relation to the number of these CSOs who may work within Chorley, the posting of CSOs within Lancashire is an operational matter for the Chief Constable.

Crime and Antisocial Behaviour

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many reported crimes there were in the Chorley council area in the last three years, broken down by ward.

John Denham: Numbers of crimes reported to the police are not collected centrally. Statistics of crimes recorded by the police in 1999–2000, 2000–01 and 2001–02 for six key offence groups have been collected for the Chorley Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership (CDRP), and have been published in the Home Office Statistical Bulletins (HOSBs) 'Recorded Crime England and Wales, 12 months to March 2001' (HOSB 12/01) and 'Crime in England and Wales, 2001–02' (HOSB 07/02). The figures are given in the following table. Numbers of offences by ward are not collected centrally.
	
		Numbers of key offences in Chorley CDRP, years ending March 2000, 2001 and 2002
		
			 Offence Year end March 2000 Year end  March 2001 Year end  March 2002 
		
		
			 Violence against the person 551 581 646 
			 Sexual offences 38 47 49 
			 Robbery 27 32 64 
			 Burglary in a dwelling 526 492 780 
			 Theft of a motor vehicle 464 414 413 
			 Theft from a vehicle 700 837 872 
		
	
	It should be noted that the Lancashire constabulary adopted the principles of the National Crime Recording Standard in August 2000, ahead of its national implementation in April 2002. The effect of the standard will be to increase the number of crimes counted, and so the figures given in the table will not be directly comparable between years.

Crime Figures (Lancaster)

Geraldine Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many reported crimes there were in the Lancaster city council area in 2001, broken down by ward.

John Denham: Numbers of crimes reported to the police are not collected centrally. Statistics of crimes recorded by the police in 2001–02 for six key offence groups have been collected for the Lancaster Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership (CDRP), and have been published in 'Crime in England and Wales 2001/02' (Home Office Statistical Bulletin 7/02). The figures are given in the following table. Numbers of offences by ward are not collected centrally.
	
		Numbers of key offences in Lancaster CDRP, year ending March 2002
		
			  Number 
		
		
			  
			 Violence against the person 1,620 
			 Sexual offences 91 
			 Robbery 96 
			 Burglary in a dwelling 853 
			 Theft of a motor vehicle 368 
			 Theft from a vehicle 1,212 
		
	
	It should be noted that the Lancashire Constabulary adopted the principles of the National Crime Recording Standard in August 2000, ahead of its national implementation in April 2002. The effect of the standard will be to increase the number of crimes counted.

Crime Reduction Fund

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list each initiative under the Crime Reduction Fund, indicating (a) the amount budgeted for each initiative and in total in 2001–02 and (b) the total expended for each initiative and in total in 2001–02; and if he will make a statement.

John Denham: holding answer 2 December 2002
	The total provision for the Crime Reduction Programme (CRP) in 2001–02 was #189 million (my previous answer to the hon. Member included also the amounts needed to complete the Crime Reduction Programme in 2002–03). Expenditure on the programme in 2001–02, totalled #149 million (with #37 million of the #40 million shortfall attributable to implementation of the Close Circuit Television initiative). In 2002–03, the total provision for the CRP is #111 million which includes the #40 million shortfall from 2001–02.
	The information covering project grant evaluation and running costs on the CRP in 2001–02 is given in the table.
	
		#000 
		
			  Delegated for provision for 2001–02(10) Actual expenditure for 2001–02 
		
		
			 Reduced Burglary 18,491 18,462 
			 Locks for the over-60s 3,000 2,796 
			 Summer Schemes 1,680 2,058 
			 Prostitution—What Works 1,028 895 
			 Targeted Policing 18,606 15,482 
			 'On Track'(11) 0 2,205 
			 Innovation Fund(12) 0 0 
			 Vehicle Crime Publicity 0 0 
			 Treatment of Offenders 8,175 6,134 
			 Drug Arrest Referrals 10,521 9,930 
			 Schools Intervention 5,405 4,483 
			 Violence Against Women 7,092 5,916 
			 Vehicle Crime 2,610 861 
			 Youth Inclusion 2,750 2,750 
			 Sentencing Practices 3,155 1,914 
			 Neighbourhood Wardens 3,000 2,867 
			 Design Against Crime 1,052 767 
			 Toolkits 400 403 
			 Arson Control Forum 0 0 
			 Offenders Index 0 0 
			 Suzy Lamplugh Trust 295 196 
			 Rape Crisis Federation 406 296 
			 CCTV Initiative(13) 101,308 70,523 
			 Total(14),(15) 188,974 148,938 
		
	
	(10) Shows the amounts delegated to these initiatives in 2001–02. The figures for 2001–02 also take into account the effects of the Spending Review 2000 Settlement.
	(11) Balance of funding transferred to the Department for Education and Skills for completion of programme.
	(12) Funding reallocated to other projects
	(13) Provision comes from the Capital Modernisation Fund. Includes #4.6 million for CCTV in police vehicles. Agreed end year flexibility of #37 million on the CCTV initiative in 2001–02 to be carried forward into 2002–03.
	(14) The total figure excludes central and regional programme support costs, which are not allocated to particular initiatives.
	(15) The provision for 2001–02 given in my previous reply to the hon. Member was #260 million, which also included the funding needed to roll out the rest of the CRP in 2002–03. The outturn for 2001–02 at #149 million and provision for 2002–03 at #111 million total #260 million.

Crime Statistics

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list for each police force in each year since 1997, (a) the number of offences recorded broken down by major category, (b) the number and proportion of those offences that were cleared up, (c) the number of persons prosecuted for offences and (d) the number and proportion of such persons convicted of such offence.

John Denham: The figures requested on recorded crimes and detections for the years up to 2000–01 are available in Chapter 2 of successive editions of the publication 'Criminal Statistics England and Wales', which are available in the Library. The 2001–02 figures are available in tables 7.02 and 8.03 of 'Crime in England and Wales 2001–02' (Home Office Statistical Bulletin 7/02), which is also available in the Library.
	It should be noted that there was a change in counting rules for recorded crime on 1 April 1998, which increased the coverage of offences, and also placed a greater emphasis on counting crimes in terms of the number of victims. Recorded crime and detection data before and after this date are therefore not directly comparable.
	There was a change in the counting rules for detections on 1 April 1999, in order to tighten up what could be counted as a detection. Figures for detections before and after this date will therefore not be directly comparable.
	Some police forces adopted the principles of the National Crime Recording Standard in advance of its national implementation in April 2002, and this will also have an effect on the numbers of offences recorded and detection rates.
	The requested information on the number of defendants proceeded against, and the number and proportion found guilty, by offence group for notifiable offences by police force area for the years 1997 to 2001, has been placed in the Library. The proportion of defendants is based on a comparison between the number prosecuted and the number convicted. Some convictions will be in a different year to the initial prosecution in the magistrates court, which account for the figures greater than 100 per cent. given in the relevant table.
	It should be noted that as the recorded crime and detection data relate to offences, and that the court data relate to offenders, they are not directly comparable.
	
		Recorded crime: number of detections by offence group and police force area and region 2001–02
		
			 Police force area and region Total Violence against the person Sexual offences Robbery Burglary Theft and handling stolen goods Fraud and forgery Criminal damage Drug offences Other 
		
		
			 Cleveland 14,723 2,269 364 231 1,836 6,324 865 1,281 1,095 458 
			 Durham 16,396 5,066 200 99 1,532 4,587 972 1,982 1,270 688 
			 Northumbria 43,768 11,587 518 442 3,336 13,702 2,606 5,161 4,761 1,655 
			 North East Region 74,887 18,922 1,082 772 6,704 24,613 4,443 8,424 7,126 2,801 
			
			 Cheshire 18,157 4,684 308 152 1,700 5,687 1,128 1,989 1,570 939 
			 Cumbria 12,115 4,092 152 61 723 3,506 687 1,641 910 343 
			 Greater Manchester 79,552 27,801 1,415 1,557 5,595 21,136 4,611 9,703 4,556 3,178 
			 Lancashire 35,948 9,887 508 388 3,616 10,585 2,214 4,151 3,117 1,482 
			 Merseyside 35,947 10,198 560 585 3,029 11,171 1,485 3,298 4,179 1,442 
			 North West Region 181,719 56,662 2,943 2,743 14,663 52,085 10,125 20,782 14,332 7,384 
			
			 Humberside 23,306 6,224 301 201 2,109 8,335 1,868 2,464 1,292 512 
			 North Yorkshire 15,344 4,373 233 84 1,065 4,773 1,334 1,586 1,372 524 
			 South Yorkshire 31,597 6,698 412 463 3,328 10,559 2,426 2,920 3,359 1,432 
			 West Yorkshire 57,694 14,294 968 1,152 8,099 18,041 3,124 5,753 4,218 2,045 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber Region 127,941 31,589 1,914 1,900 14,601 41,708 8,752 12,723 10,241 4,513 
			
			 Derbyshire 22,204 6,920 395 250 2,337 6,180 1,397 2,439 1,413 873 
			 Leicestershire 25,099 6,941 321 241 1,831 7,798 2,465 2,745 1,569 1,188 
			 Lincolnshire 13,588 3,549 260 81 1,242 4,323 907 1,674 1,067 485 
			 Northamptonshire 18,878 4,955 232 280 1,418 6,706 1,543 2221 953 570 
			 Nottinghamshire 28,048 8,110 454 446 2,684 9,062 1,376 2,794 1,889 1,233 
			 East Midlands Region 107,817 30,475 1,662 1,298 9,512 34,069 7,688 11,873 6,891 4,349 
			
			 Staffordshire 27,754 10,471 413 216 2,022 6,937 1,391 3,132 2,066 1,106 
			 Warwickshire 10,585 3,093 111 110 1,180 3,367 696 1,102 628 298 
			 West Mercia 30,011 10,662 408 183 1,908 8,018 2,292 3,424 2,114 1,002 
			 West Midlands 107,456 37,092 1,586 2,766 9,330 27,482 7,639 9,380 7,419 4,762 
			 West Midlands Region 175,806 61,318 2,518 3,275 14,440 45,804 12,018 17,038 12,227 7,168 
			
			 Bedfordshire 12,890 3,556 140 161 879 4,607 821 1,359 954 413 
			 Cambridgeshire 15,625 5,349 279 146 1,508 4,370 834 1,744 780 615 
			 Essex 29,567 9,391 445 227 1,911 8,996 1,859 3,857 2,109 772 
			 Hertfordshire 16,362 3,761 258 214 1,210 6,015 1,307 1,766 1,343 488 
			 Norfolk 14,720 4,259 239 97 1,027 4,433 1,248 1,903 1,161 353 
			 Suffolk 16,426 5,693 234 117 836 4,398 1,066 2,255 1,219 608 
			 East of England Region 105,590 32,009 1,595 962 7,371 32,819 7,135 12,884 7,566 3,249 
			
			 London, City of 3,414 357 18 8 141 1,294 891 114 444 147 
			 Metropolitan Police 148,827 41,304 3,201 6,042 12,046 38,672 8,526 12,255 22,075 4,706 
			 London Region 152,241 41,661 3,219 6,050 12,187 39,966 9,417 12,369 22,519 4,853 
			
			 Hampshire 40,052 12,607 874 262 2,622 11,087 2,765 4,906 3,370 1,559 
			 Kent 33,903 8,690 588 269 2,189 11,062 2,087 4,790 2,946 1,282 
			 Surrey 15,455 4,677 229 167 935 3,824 1,496 1,863 1,804 460 
			 Sussex 34,428 12,577 482 338 1,864 9,127 2,064 4,047 2,500 1,429 
			 Thames Valley 48,196 11,638 447 749 4,705 16,634 4,123 4,658 3,985 1,257 
			 South East Region 172,034 50,189 2,620 1,785 12,315 51,734 12,535 20,264 14,605 5,987 
			
			 Avon and Somerset 25,632 5,131 341 510 3,254 9,044 2,639 2,362 1,775 576 
			 Devon and Cornwall 31,963 9,270 572 160 2,033 8,516 2,896 3,566 3,940 1,010 
			 Dorset 14,567 3,545 214 64 1,185 3,958 2,239 1,655 1,323 384 
			 Gloucestershire 15,110 3,668 166 130 1,509 4,848 1,456 1,590 1,209 534 
			 Wiltshire 11,745 3,221 190 91 860 3,579 985 1,376 1,089 354 
			 South West Region 99,017 24,835 1,483 955 8,841 29,945 10,215 10,549 9,336 2858 
			
			 Dyfed Powys 15,393 5,276 268 21 771 2973 1,057 1,855 2,385 787 
			 Gwent 26,011 8,355 398 124 2,168 7,834 1,594 3,054 1,730 754 
			 North Wales 14,934 4,874 241 65 914 4,238 941 1,788 1,321 552 
			 South Wales 38,006 11,910 436 249 2,587 10,720 2,497 4,440 3,869 1,298 
			 Wales 94,344 30,415 1,343 459 6,440 25,765 6,089 11,137 9,305 3,391 
			
			 England and Wales 1,291,396 378,075 20,379 20,199 107,074 378,508 88,417 138,043 114,148 46,553 
		
	
	
		Number of defendants proceeded against at the magistrates courts for notifiable offences by police force area England and Wales 1997(16)
		
			 Proceeded against Violence against the person Sexual offences Burglary Robbery Theft and handling stolen goods Fraud and forgery Criminal damage Drug offences Other offences Total 
		
		
			 Avon and Somerset 3,517 250 1,134 195 4,336 630 1,311 811 1,075 13,259 
			 Bedfordshire 1,427 65 439 130 1,708 280 537 456 433 5,475 
			 Cambridgeshire 1,890 77 674 80 1,779 363 700 405 629 6,597 
			 Cheshire 3,248 143 847 158 3,180 543 1,021 985 936 11,061 
			 Cleveland 2,127 57 1,175 134 3,193 326 765 364 700 8,841 
			 Cumbria 2,397 72 562 36 1,984 423 795 538 404 7,211 
			 Derbyshire 3,353 209 888 80 2,604 538 1,101 506 1,158 10,437 
			 Devon and Cornwall 4,346 170 1,091 101 4,026 787 1,427 1,454 1,135 14,537 
			 Dorset 1,156 107- 438 69 1,770 521 558 347 422 5,388 
			 Durham 2,457 61 795 72 2,013 330 749 366 659 7,502 
			 Essex 3,996 226 995 137 4,307 842 1,396 1,134 1,392 14,425 
			 Gloucestershire 1,347 47 472 73 1,581 265 510 323 582 5,200 
			 Greater Manchester 9,302 522 2,939 876 11,799 1,530 2,991 2,193 3,203 35,355 
			 Hampshire 5,044 240 1,290 181 5,543 1,176 1,877 1,309 1,951 18,611 
			 Hertfordshire 1,883 103 403 110 1,843 376 655 549 560 6,482 
			 Humberside 2,968 91 1,053 105 3,305 469 948 611 780 10,330 
			 Kent 3,260 126 1,031 121 4,704 514 1,448 1,300 853 13,357 
			 Lancashire 6,910 268 2,152 264 6,952 1,036 1,843 1,726 1,731 22,882 
			 Leicestershire 3,387 168 945 264 2,914 631 1,036 650 984 10,979 
			 Lincolnshire 2,194 97 672 39 2,115 412 729 693 579 7,530 
			 London, City of 212 9 35 8 414 235 51 166 141 1,271 
			 Merseyside 4,681 150 1,384 259 6,611 886 1,219 2,311 1,571 19,072 
			 Metropolitan police 21,598 1,401 5,512 2,930 24,955 5,135 6,051 9,253 6,645 83,480 
			 Norfolk 2,287 180 447 41 1,788 424 829 695 385 7,076 
			 Northamptonshire 1,773 54 564 82 1,748 309 767 229 411 5,937 
			 Northumbria 6,045 263 2,018 394 6,405 863 1,872 1,192 2,090 21,142 
			 North Yorkshire 2,630 107 624 81 2,272 460 736 605 692 8,207 
			 Nottinghamshire 4,788 254 1,374 225 4,332 699 1,425 797 1,179 15,073 
			 South Yorkshire 3,970 156 1,318 241 4,973 592 1,578 1,339 1,065 15,232 
			 Staffordshire 3,763 207 1,054 132 3,205 623 1,570 903 926 12,383 
			 Suffolk 1,752 68 516 74 1,633 602 685 535 484 6,349 
			 Surrey 1,493 51 318 84 1,398 279 544 419 469 5,055 
			 Sussex 3,239 124 961 189 4,013 707 1,078 1,207 927 12,445 
			 Thames Valley 3,934 180 1,181 278 4,387 751 1,498 1,353 1,339 14,901 
			 Warwickshire 1,121 51 447 65 1,244 225 400 229 522 4,304 
			 West Mercia 2,951 115 922 101 2,592 524 923 732 1,058 9,918 
			 West Midlands 8,928 528 3,502 1,151 10,008 1,607 2,902 2,058 3,560 34,244 
			 West Yorkshire 7,508 479 3,467 673 9,367 1,511 2,668 3,721 2,365 31,759 
			 Wiltshire 1,222 80 308 66 1,121 260 467 333 261 4,118 
			 Dyfed Powys 2,483 78 575 38 1,457 324 593 757 815 7,120 
			 Gwent 3,413 92 769 94 2,121 406 1,135 645 777 9,452 
			 North Wales 2,665 137 571 44 2,022 413 909 591 754 8,106 
			 South Wales 6,622 201 1,668 306 5,776 890 2,444 1,431 1,777 21,115 
			 England and Wales 165,287 8,064 49,530 10,781 175,498 30,717 54,741 48,221 50,379 593,218 
		
	
	(16) These data are on the principal offence basis.

Criminal Offences

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many offences were brought to justice in each of the Criminal Justice System areas in the last three years.

David Blunkett: The requested information is available for all areas for 1999–2000, 2000–01 and 2001–02, although the figures for 2001–02 are, at this stage, provisional. The information is contained in the table.
	
		Offences brought to justice1 by police force area: 2001–02, 2000–01 and 1999–2000—Absolute and percentage changes from 1999–2000
		
			  Change 2000–01 to 2001–02  Change 1999–2000 to 2001–02  
			  OBTJ 2001–022 OBTJ 2000–01 OBTJ 1999–2000 Number Percentage Number Percentage 
		
		
			  
			 Avon and Somerset 28,083 27,463 28,487 620 2.3 -404 -1.4 
			 Bedfordshire 11,297 10,897 10,244 400 3.7 1,053 10.3 
			 Cambridgeshire 10,783 11,465 13,503 -682 -5.9 -2,720 -20.1 
			 Cheshire 15,211 17,186 18,505 -1,975 -11.5 -3,294 -17.8 
			 Cleveland 14,603 14,546 15,427 57 0.4 -824 -5.3 
			 Cumbria 9,985 9,779 12,255 206 2.1 -2,270 -18.5 
			 Derbyshire 17,574 16,425 17,226 1,149 7.0 348 2.0 
			 Devon and Cornwall 25,640 25,585 26,966 55 0.2 -1,326 -4.9 
			 Dorset 11,756 10,719 12,031 1,037 9.7 -275 -2.3 
			 Durham 13,723 12,900 12,869 823 6.4 854 6.6 
			 Dyfed Powys 11,010 10,682 13,064 328 3.1 -2,054 -15.7 
			 Essex 21,912 20,281 22,459 1,631 8.0 -547 -2.4 
			 Gloucestershire 12,920 13,033 13,461 -113 -0.9 -541 -4.0 
			 Greater Manchester 57,501 68,546 72,821 -11,045 -16.1 -15,320 -21.0 
			 Gwent 16,892 16,902 18,899 -10 -0.1 -2,007 -10.6 
			 Hampshire 31,848 32,254 35,655 -406 -1.3 -3,807 -10.7 
			 Hertfordshire 13,573 13,488 13,856 85 0.6 -283 -2.0 
			 Humberside 17,859 18,847 20,120 -988 -5.2 -2,261 -11.2 
			 Kent 24,466 27,833 28,600 -3,367 -12.1 -4,134 -14.5 
			 Lancashire 30,650 29,666 32,366 984 3.3 -1,716 -5.3 
			 Leicestershire 19,580 18,157 20,177 1,423 7.8 -597 -3.0 
			 Lincolnshire 13,125 10,256 10,488 2,869 28.0 2,637 25.1 
			 Merseyside 30,613 32,321 30,699 -1,708 -5.3 -86 -0.3 
			 Met. Area of London(19) 123,665 121,765 141,276 1,900 1.6 -17,611 -12.5 
			 Norfolk 12,621 12,897 16,340 -276 -2.1 -3,719 -22.8 
			 North Wales 13,226 12,551 13,960 675 5.4 -734 -5.3 
			 North Yorkshire 12,339 12,300 14,380 39 0.3 -2,041 -14.2 
			 Northamptonshire 13,204 13,940 13,963 -736 -5.3 -759 -5.4 
			 Northumbria 41,514 40,128 43,952 1,386 3.5 -2,438 -5.5 
			 Nottinghamshire 24,569 25,971 26,723 -1,402 -5.4 -2,154 -8.1 
			 South Wales 30,977 28,792 33,856 2,185 7.6 -2,879 -8.5 
			 South Yorkshire 24,383 25,812 27,685 -1,429 -5.5 -3,302 -11.9 
			 Staffordshire(20) 21,197 22,640 20,603 -1,443 -6.4 594 2.9 
			 Suffolk 12,034 11,768 11,808 266 2.3 226 1.9 
			 Surrey 12,267 11,004 12,020 1,263 11.5 247 2.1 
			 Sussex 22,724 20,256 20,276 2,468 12.2 2,448 12.1 
			 Thames Valley 31,309 32,137 29,694 -828 -2.6 1,615 5.4 
			 Warwickshire 8,092 7,057 7,709 1,035 14.7 383 5.0 
			 West Mercia 22,444 20,478 21,587 1,966 9.6 857 4.0 
			 West Midlands 79,707 72,001 74,971 7,706 10.7 4,736 6.3 
			 West Yorkshire 46,928 53,033 61,149 -6,105 -11.5 -14,221 -23.3 
			 Wiltshire 10,851 9,987 11,625 864 8.6 -774 -6.7 
			 
			 England and Wales 1,024,654 1,023,748 1,103,755 906 0.1 -79,102 -7.2 
			 Comprised of:
			 TICs 91,084 88,657 97,640 2,427 2.7 -6,557 -6.7 
			 Cautions 228,691 228,814 249,486 -123 -0.1 -20,795 -8.3 
			 Convictions 704,879 706,277 756,629 -1,398 -0.2 -51,750 -6.8 
		
	
	(17) Offences brought to justice include TICs, cautions and convictions for notifiable offences
	(18) 2002 Q1 figures are provisional (including estimates of shortfalls) and are subject to change. Hence 2001–02 figures are also provisional.
	(19) Metropolitan area of London includes City of London.
	(20) Staffordshire supplied only four weeks data from magistrates courts in 2000. Hence both 1999–2000 and 2000–01 figures include estimates of shortfalls.

Crown Court Juries

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the effect of interference with juries on the outcome of prosecutions in the Crown court in the last five years.

Hilary Benn: holding answer 28 November 2002
	The possibility of jury interference has always been a matter of concern, particularly but by no means exclusively, in the context of trials relating to organised crime. There are several important legal measures already in force, designed to deal with jury interference.
	The Crown Prosecution Service does not maintain records of the number of cases in which jury interference takes place, but in the last five years there have been instances of actual or feared jury interference that have resulted both in pre-trial arrangements whereby jury protection is put in place and trials which have been terminated before a jury has been able to reach a verdict. There have also been instances when jury interference has come to light after the jury's verdict has been returned.
	The Criminal Justice Bill now before Parliament makes provision for the trial to be conducted without a jury either, on the application of the prosecution where there is a danger of jury tampering or where the judge discharges the jury because of jury tampering. The Government take the view that these measures will be a further strong and effective disincentive to jury tampering.

Domestic Violence

Gary Streeter: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the Government's policy is on funding research into the prevalence of (a) child abuse in the home and (b) domestic violence that breaks down results by (i) family configuration and/or (ii) marital status.

Hilary Benn: The Home Office's Research, Development and Statistics Directorate (RDS) conducts a wide range of social research, development, statistical economics and modelling work, all of which build up the evidence base, produce national statistics and support practical delivery of the Home Office's targets in all seven Home Office aims.
	Priorities for R&D are considered as part of a three year rolling business plan built into the overall Home Office planning process and are based on the resource allocations agreed as part of the spending review. The need for research into the prevalence of these two types of violence will continue to be assessed within the context of overall R&D priorities for the department but both will stay high on the agenda due to their seriousness.

Examining Officers' Powers

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what plans he has to enable an examining officer to request from the owner of a ship or aircraft specified information even if that information has also been required by immigration officers; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what plans he has to improve accommodation for special branch officers at airports and ports, and to provide sufficient space to enable persons awaiting interview to sit and be interviewed in private; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what plans he has (a) to introduce induction and training for special advocates under the Terrorism Act 2000 and (b) to ensure special advocates receive properly prepared instructions; and if he will make a statement;
	(4)  what plans he has (a) to improve co-ordination between police forces providing special branch services at ports and airports and (b) to introduce a unified port and borders police force; and if he will make a statement;
	(5)  what plans he has to ensure that transport operators improve the accuracy of the manifesto of passengers they carry into the UK; and if he will make a statement;
	(6)  what plans he has to propose amendments to the Terrorism Act 2000 to make it a specific offence to be or to have been concerned in the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism; and if he will make a statement.

John Denham: The issues raised by my hon. Friend are among the comments and recommendations made by the noble Lord Carlile of Berriew QC in his independent report on the operation of the Terrorism Act 2000, which was laid before both Houses of Parliament on 26 November.
	I will be giving my full consideration to all of these proposals and I will be responding to Lord Carlile on the issues raised in the new year. I will of course report my response to the House.

Immigration

Humfrey Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many calls were received by the immigration reporting line; how many prosecutions resulted; and what the cost was of the service during the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Beverley Hughes: The trial of the confidential hotline ran from May to July 2002. A full evaluation of this trial has now taken place and following consultation recommendations are about to be put to Home Office Ministers. I am therefore unable to give further details at this time.
	Once Ministers have had the opportunity to review the findings I will write again to the hon. Member.

Local Authority Finance

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much was granted from each source of support within his Department to (a) Westminster City Council and (b) the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, outside the revenue support grant settlement, in each year since 1997.

Beverley Hughes: The information is given in the table. The grants included are those paid solely to the councils except in the case of Drug Action Teams, the Crime Reduction Programme and the Partnership Development Fund. In those cases the council is a member of a partnership and funding is allocated to one ormore of the partners, for the benefit of the partnership as a whole.
	
		# 
		
			 Grant paid and year Kensington and Chelsea Westminster 
		
		
			 1997–98   
			 Grant under section 11 of the Local Government Act 1966 739,615 1,363,059 
			 Make A Difference 55,000 0 
			
			 1998–99   
			 Grant under section 11 of the Local Government Act 1966(21) 758,845 1,398,498 
			 Make A Difference 30,000 0 
			 Youth Justice Pilots 11,250 17,000 
			
			 1999–2000   
			 Crime Reduction Programme and Partnership Development Fund 176,582 (22)384,149 
			 Make A Difference 20,000 0 
			 Youth Justice Pilots 38,930 53,500 
			 Drug Action Teams:   
			 Development Grant 35,782 0 
			 Adult and Family Asylum Seekers 7,790,560 10,192,480 
			
			 2000–01   
			 Drug Action Teams:   
			 Development Grant 35,782 37,484 
			 Communities Against Drugs 0 0 
			 Crime Reduction Programme and Partnership Development Fund 177,000 1 384,144 
			 Adult and Family Asylum Seekers and Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children 12,960,608 (24)15,629,840 
			 Referral Order Pilots 62,000 62,000 
			
			 2001–02   
			 Drug Action Teams:   
			 Development Grant 35,260 37,484 
			 Communities Against Drugs 5,656 (25)0 
			 Crime Reduction Programme and Partnership Development Fund 41,883 1 2,671,851 
			 Adult and Family Asylum Seekers and Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children 10,025,493 (26)12,620,222 
			 Referral Order Pilots 62,000 44,198 
			 Communities Against Drugs 199,400 277,800 
			 Small Retailers in Deprived Areas (27)10,499 0 
		
	
	(21) The Ethnic Minorities and Travellers Achievement Grant, that replaced section 11grant at the end of 1998–99, is administered by the Department for Education and Employment.
	(22) These figures had not been previously available.
	1 This includes the total grant for the Targeted Police Initiative Operation Lilac that was paid to both Westminster and Camden
	(23) The figures in the PQ of 10 January 2002 were pre-audit figures and these are post audit figures.
	(24) Westminster did not take up their allocation in 2001–02 but have in 2002–03.
	(25) These figures were not mentioned in the reply of 10 January 2002 because they were not available.
	(26) This money was spent after the PQ of 10 January 2002.

Local Volunteer Development Organisations

Oliver Letwin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to provide funding for local volunteer development agencies to assist these organisations to register as an umbrella body to use the Criminal Records Bureau.

Hilary Benn: Since announcing, in February 2001, that higher level disclosure checks would be issued free of charge to volunteers, we have received representations from voluntary organisations requesting additional funding to meet their associated administrative costs. We have considered these representations very carefully but we are not persuaded that it would be appropriate for additional funding to be made available.
	We are in discussions with the voluntary and community sectors to explore a range of access arrangements for using the disclosure service which might meet the needs of the organisations concerned in the most appropriate and cost effective manner.

Parliamentary Questions

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of parliamentary written answers from his Department in the last session consisted of a promise to write to an hon. Member.

Beverley Hughes: The Home Office was asked 6,714 parliamentary written questions last session. Of these, 203, or three per cent. were given an XI will write" reply.

Parliamentary Questions

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many parliamentary written questions last session were responded to within (a) a week, (b) two weeks and (c) three weeks.

Beverley Hughes: The Home Office was asked 6,714 parliamentary written questions last session. Of these, 2,613 were responded to within a week, 1,903 were answered within two weeks and 601 were answered within three weeks. We recognise that our performance in answering parliamentary questions is not as good as it should be, and we are working closely with directorates and its business change and IT partners to improve the situation.

Parliamentary Questions

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) parliamentary questions and (b) letters from hon. Members in Session 2001–02 remain unanswered, broken down by those which are (i) one month old, (ii) two months old, (iii) three months old, (iv) four months old and (v) over six months old.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 3 December 2002
	The total number of letters received from hon. Members in the last session (2001—2002) was 26,769. The number that remain unanswered as at 6 December is 2,704.
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 Total received 26,769 
			 Total unanswered 2,704 
			 Less than one month old 641 
			 One month old 415 
			 Two months old 222 
			 Three months old 210 
			 Four months old 229 
			 Five months old 177 
			 Six months old 810 
		
	
	The Home Office receives a large amount of correspondence from hon. Members. My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary and his ministerial team attach the highest importance to the speed and quality of replies to ministerial correspondence, but we recognise that further work is needed to improve the current levels of performance. A number of important initiatives within the Department have helped drive up performance and we are committed to continuing and extending this work. A new computer-based correspondence tracking system will be introduced shortly which will radically change the way we handle letters and will help us produce more timely responses.
	Most of the delays occur when responding to MPs' letters in relation to immigration cases, Whilst there is no doubt that the current performance is unacceptable, in many cases when a letter is received regarding an immigration case, it is necessary to locate the relevant file and get it to the person responding to the letter. The fact that cases are dealt with in various parts of the country adds to the difficulty. However, I have instigated further measures to resolve the backlog.
	The Cabinet Office publishes annual reports to Parliament, setting out the volume of Members' correspondence received by departments. The report for 2001 was published on Friday 24 May. Copies of previous reports are available in the Library.
	In accordance with the normal procedure, all outstanding parliamentary questions from the last session were answered before the session ended. Where a substantive answer was not available, honourable Members will receive a letter giving a full answer shortly, if they have not done so yet. A copy of all such letters will be placed in the Library.

Police

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers there were within the City of London and Metropolitan Police force areas, broken down by London borough (a) at the most recent time for which figures are available, (b) in May 1997 based on the old boundaries and (c) in May 1997 based on the new boundaries.

John Denham: holding answer 16 December 2002
	Information on the number of Metropolitan Police officers in each London Borough for May 1997 is not available. The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis has provided data, set out in the table, on divisional strength on 31 December 1997 and 31 March 2002. The current London borough divisional structure did not exist in 1997. The figures in the table are those for the previous smaller divisions aggregated into their new borough divisions.
	The effects of the boundary changes on 1 April 2000 were incorporated into the police funding formula in 2000–01 and the overall transfer was in terms of financial resources, not of officers.
	I am advised by the Commissioner that around 470 MPS officers were seconded to the three boundary change forces on 1 April 2000 to give them time to recruit their own officers to police the former MPS areas now in these counties. These officers returned to the MPS over the next two years. There are now no MPS officers on secondment to Essex, Hertfordshire and Surrey as a result of the boundary changes of 1 April 2000.
	As it is for police authorities and chief officers of police to decide how resources are utilised, it is not possible to show what the strength for each London borough would have been in 1997 had the current territorial division structure been in place. Divisional strength in 1997 would have reflected operational priorities at the time. A sensible comparison between 1997 and 2002 cannot be made.
	Information about police strength in the City of London Police's two territorial divisions has been provided by the Commissioner of the City of London Police (Mr. James Hart QPM). He is unable to provide information about divisional police strength in 1997. The City of London Police was unaffected by the boundary changes on 1 April 2000.
	Police officers in the territorial divisions of both forces are, of course, supported by police officers in other operational roles, such as traffic, Serious Crime Group, Police Support Units and dogs and mounted sections. There are other officers in specialist squads such as fraud investigation and anti- terrorism duties.
	
		City of London Police and Metropolitan Police
		
			 Metropolitan Police London Borough Divisions Number of police officers 31 December 1997 Number of police officers 31 March 2002 
		
		
			 City of Westminster 1,697 1,544 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 609 541.2 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 542 515.1 
			 Camden 697 701.0 
			 Islington 549 564.1 
			 Harrow 289 288.9 
			 Brent 613 584.5 
			 Barnet 706 515.5 
			 Ealing 627 638.2 
			 Hillingdon 398 410.2 
			 Haringey 527 560.0 
			 Hackney 677 674.4 
			 Tower Hamlets 568 559.4 
			 Waltham Forest 464 468.1 
			 Redbridge 497 398.6 
			 Havering 334 319.4 
			 Newham 590 608.4 
			 Barking and Dagenham 300 298.6 
			 Enfield 550 491.0 
			 Southwark 861 805.3 
			 Lewisham 610 598.6 
			 Bromley 464 431.7 
			 Greenwich 612 574.2 
			 Bexley 282 320.8 
			 Croydon 601 591.0 
			 Sutton 405 257.0 
			 Lambeth 917 874.1 
			 Richmond upon Thames 283 277.0 
			 Hounslow 457 436.3 
			 Kingston upon Thames 367 266.9 
			 Merton 293 283.7 
			 Wandsworth 596 562.2 
			 Total 17,982 16,932.2 
			
			 Heathrow Airport(27) 362 302.6 
			 Divisional strength 18,344 17,234.8 
			 Total force strength (28)26,677 (28)26,223 
		
	
	(27) These police posts are paid for by Heathrow Airport Plc.
	(28) Total force strength is taken from data collected from the forces by Home Office Research, Development and Statistical Group
	Note:
	Figures are full-time equivalents.
	
		
			 City of London Police Territorial Divisions Divisional Strength Divisional Strength 
		
		
			 Snow Hill Not available 207.3 
			 Bishopsgate Not available 194.9 
			 Total force strength (29)859 (29)764 
		
	
	(29) Total force strength is taken from data collected from the forces by Home Office Research, Development and Statistical Group.

Police

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the change in police (a) pay and (b) pension costs to be met by police authorities between 2002–03 and 2003–04.

John Denham: It is for each police authority to estimate its projected changes in pay and pensions costs each year.

Police

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the whole-time equivalent police officer establishment was for (a) 1992, (b) 1997, (c) 2000 and (d) 2002, in each London borough, giving the percentage and actual variations in each case.

John Denham: The information has been provided by the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis. The Metropolitan police is unable to provide establishments for each London borough in 1992, 1997 and 2000 as the current London borough divisional arrangement was only introduced after the boundary changes of 1 April 2000 with Essex, Hertfordshire and Surrey. The figures shown are therefore the aggregate strength of the old divisions that now fall within the new London borough Divisions for 31 December in each of those years.
	The effects of the Metropolitan police boundary changes on 1 April 2000 were incorporated into the police funding formula and the overall transfer between the forces was in terms of financial resources, not of officers. It is for police authorities and Chief Constables to decide how resources are utilised.
	I am advised by the Commissioner that around 470 MPS officers were seconded to the three boundary change forces on 1 April 2000 to give them time to recruit their own officers to police the former MPS areas now in these counties. These officers returned to the MPS over the next two years. There are now no MPS officers on secondment to Essex, Hertfordshire and Surrey as a result of the boundary changes of 1 April 2000.
	Since 2001 each London borough has been provided with a Budgeted Strength (establishment), which is set by the Commissioner at the start of the financial year, and which the division aims to achieve by the end of the financial year. These borough establishments can be subject to change in the light of changes in circumstances.
	The total strength of the Metropolitan police at 31 March 2002 was 26,223 officers, 1,345 more than in March 2001. At the same date the Metropolitan police employed 10,459 civilian support staff, 419 more than in March 2001.
	
		Metropolitan police: actual strength—31 December 1992, 31 December 1997 and 31 December 2000
		
			  Number of police officers as at 31 December  
			 London borough division 1992 1997 2000 
		
		
			 City of Westminster 1,906 1,697 1,580 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 632 609 557 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 541 542 517 
			 Camden 722 697 671 
			 Islington 547 549 554 
			 Harrow 272 289 295 
			 Brent 624 613 606 
			 Barnet 759 706 517 
			 Ealing 620 627 611 
			 Hillingdon 454 398 376 
			 Haringey 562 527 533 
			 Hackney 611 677 673 
			 Tower Hamlets 669 568 548 
			 Waltham Forest 462 464 453 
			 Redbridge 520 497 390 
			 Havering 366 334 320 
			 Newham 570 590 583 
			 Barking and Dagenham 286 300 278 
			 Enfield 532 550 478 
			 Southwark 817 861 801 
			 Lewisham 594 610 584 
			 Bromley 473 464 440 
			 Greenwich 545 612 586 
			 Bexley 277 282 310 
			 Croydon 598 601 549 
			 Sutton 374 405 254 
			 Lambeth 980 917 875 
			 Richmond upon Thames 298 283 260 
			 Hounslow 641 457 411 
			 Kingston upon Thames 375 367 256 
			 Merton 291 293 290 
			 Wandsworth 672 596 555 
			 Total 18,589 17,982 16,712 
			 
			 Heathrow Airport(30) 442 362 304 
			 Divisional total 19,031 18,344 17,016 
		
	
	(30) These police posts are paid for by Heathrow Airport Plc.
	Note:
	Figures are full-time equivalents.
	
		Metropolitan police: budgeted work force total and actual strength—31 March 2002
		
			Variation and percentage  
			 London borough division Police budgeted strength(31) Actual police numbers at 31 March 2002(31) Difference Percentage 
		
		
			 City of Westminster 1,642 1,544.0 -98.0 -5.97 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 577 541.2 -35.8 -6.21 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 539 515.1 -23.9 -4.43 
			 Camden 699 701.0 +2.0 +0.3 
			 Islington 584 564.1 -19.9 -3.41 
			 Harrow 311 288.9 -22.1 -7.12 
			 Brent 637 584.5 -52.5 -8.24 
			 Barnet 542 515.5 -26.5 -4.89 
			 Ealing 656 638.2 -17.8 -2.71 
			 Hillingdon 395 410.2 +15.2 +3.84 
			 Haringey 562 560.0 -2.0 -0.35 
			 Hackney 708 647.4 -60.6 -8.56 
			 Tower Hamlets 578 559.4 -18.6 -3.22 
			 Waltham Forest 474 468.1 -5.9 -1.24 
			 Redbridge 414 398.6 -15.4 -3.73 
			 Havering 334 319.4 -14.6 -4.37 
			 Newham 616 608.4 -7.6 -1.24 
			 Barking and Dagenham 294 298.6 +4.6 +1.57 
			 Enfield 515 491.0 -24.0 -4.65 
			 Southwark 839 805.3 -33.7 -4.02 
			 Lewisham 612 598.6 -13.4 -2.19 
			 Bromley 458 431.7 -26.3 -5.75 
			 Greenwich 613 574.2 -38.8 -6.33 
			 Bexley 328 320.8 -7.2 -2.18 
			 Croydon 595 591.0 -4.0 -0.68 
			 Sutton 270 257.0 -13 -4.82 
			 Lambeth 923 874.1 -48.9 -5.29 
			 Richmond upon Thames 274 277.0 +3 +1.09 
			 Hounslow 435 436.3 +1.3 +0.29 
			 Kingston upon Thames 272 266.9 -5.1 -1.87 
			 Merton 303 283.7 -19.3 -6.38 
			 Wandsworth 586 562.2 -23.8 -4.06 
			 Total 17,585 16,932.2 -652.8 -3.71 
			  
			 Heathrow Airport(32) 301 302.6 +1.6 +0.53 
			 Divisional total 17,886 17,234.8 -651.2 -3.64 
		
	
	(31) Figures are full-time equivalents.
	(32) These police posts are paid for by Heathrow Airport Plc.

Prisons

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons have been recalled to custody following a breach of a prison licence in each month since March 2001.

Hilary Benn: holding answer 2 December 2002
	Information on the number of people being recalled to custody following a breach of licence is given in the table.
	
		
			  Ordinary licence Home detention curfew (HDC) 
		
		
			 2001   
			 March 311 54 
			 April 295 51 
			 May 239 46 
			 June 302 58 
			 July 374 61 
			 August 518 63 
			 September 314 67 
			 October 424 60 
			 November 456 48 
			 December 277 71 
			 2002   
			 January 695 62 
			 February 429 66 
			 March 490 64 
			 April 364 78 
			 May 547 117 
			 June 465 147 
			 July 506 154 
			 August 569 166 
			 September 591 148 
			 October 700 153 
		
	
	A breach may be a non-compliance of a licence condition. However, consideration must be given primarily, to the element of risk to the public, regardless of an actual breach, that the offender presents in terms of his behaviour. If his behaviour pattern suggests that there may be further offending, and therefore there may be a risk to the public, then that too would be considered a breach.

Replica Firearms

Greg Pope: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will prohibit the sale of replica firearms.

Bob Ainsworth: I am considering how we might improve controls on the possession of replica firearms.

Secure Units

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans his Department has for expanding (a) local authority secure units, (b) young offenders institutions and (c) secure training centres; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: The number of places in Local Authority Secure Units (LASUs) available to the Youth Justice Board (YJB) was increased by 60 during 2002–03. The Board has no plans to increase the number of LASU places further.
	The Prison Service has made available a further 164 places to the YJB for juveniles during 2002–03. No decisions have been made whether or not to seek to continue this requirement during 2003–04, but the YJB has no plans to expand further the number of juvenile Young Offender Institution places.
	Work on providing an additional 64 beds at Rainsbrook and Medway Secure Training Centres (STCS) has recently been completed. The number of places in STCs has therefore increased during 2002–03 from 130 to 194. The YJB is preparing a contract for the development of a new 80-bed Secure Training Centre at Milton Keynes which it hopes may be available in 2004–05. The Board's current plans are that those additional 80 places will substitute for non-STC places. No firm decisions have been made about any further expansion of the STC estate.

Secure Units

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the forecast budget is for (a) local authority secure units, (b) young offenders institutions and (c) secure training centres in (i) 2002–03, (ii) 2003–04 and (iii) 2004–05.

Hilary Benn: The Home Office pays annual grant to the Youth Justice Board to meet the costs of the youth justice service in England and Wales, including the provision of juvenile secure accommodation. The Board's forecast expenditure in 2002–03 and its provisional budget for 2003–04, subject to final decisions on allocations following the Spending Review 2002 Settlement for secure accommodation, is as follows:
	
		# million 
		
			  2002–03 2003–04 
		
		
			 Local authority secure units 56 53 
			 Young offender institutions 155 161 
			 Secure training centres(33) 38 59 
		
	
	(33) Includes capital
	Details of provision for 2004–05 are not yet available following the Spending Review Settlement and are the subject of discussions between the Department and the board.

Spending Review

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list for his Department (a) those Comprehensive Spending Review 1998 targets that were outstanding at the time of the statement on the Comprehensive Spending Review 2002, (b) progress on such targets since then and (c) the expected date when targets not yet achieved will be met.

Bob Ainsworth: holding answer 17 December 2002
	The Home Office publishes progress against all its outstanding Public Service Agreement (PSA) targets in its Departmental Report. The Annual Report for 2001–02 (Cm 5406) was laid before Parliament in June, and is available on the Home Office website (www.homeoffice.gov.uk). The Home Office PSA targets for 2003–04 to 2005–06 are contained in the Spending Review White Paper published by the Treasury (Cm 5571).

Street Robberies

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many street robberies took place in the Greater London area during the last 12 months.

John Denham: National statistics on recorded crime published in July showed that there were 53,547 robberies in the Metropolitan Police Force area between April 2001 and March 2002, which represented an increase of 31 per cent. compared to the previous year.
	Figures published in October 2002, as part of the Street Crime Initiative, showed that there were 20,773 robberies between April and September 2002. This was 17 per cent. below the level recorded for the same period the previous year. There were 33 per cent. fewer robberies and snatch thefts in the Metropolitan Police in September 2002 when compared to January 2002, which was the month immediately preceding the onset of Operation Safer Streets.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Council Tax Benefit

Iain Coleman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many households living in (a) Liverpool, (b) Birmingham, (c) Newcastle and (d) the London borough of Hammersmith and Fulham who are in receipt of council tax benefit have had their benefit capped as a consequence of the council tax benefit restrictions in (i) 2000–01 and (b) 2001–02.

Malcolm Wicks: Information is not available by local authority. The available information is in the table.
	
		Council tax benefit claims restricted to Band E by Government Office Region at May 2000 and May 2001
		
			 Government Office Region May 2000 May 2001 
		
		
			 North East (34)— (34)— 
			 North West (35)1,000 (35)1,000 
			 West Midlands (35)1,000 (35)1,000 
			 London 9,000 9,000 
		
	
	(34) Signifies nil or negligible.
	(35) Figures under 2,400 are subject to a high degree of sampling variation and
	should be used only as a guide.
	Notes:
	1. The data refer to households claiming Council Tax Benefit which may be a single
	person, a couple or a family. More than one benefit household can live in one property, for example two or more adults in a flat or house share arrangement.
	2. Figures for any non-responding authorities have been estimated.
	3. Figures have been rounded to the nearest thousand and are subject to a degree
	of sampling variation.
	4. Figures exclude any Second Adult Rebate cases.
	Source:
	Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit Management Information System, Annual 1
	per cent. sample, taken in May 2000 and May 2001.

Fairground Safety

Candy Atherton: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many fatal accidents there have been at fairgrounds in each of the last 10 years;
	(2)  what changes in the regulation of fairground safety there have been since 2000;
	(3)  what plans he has for reforms of fairground safety.

Nick Brown: The table sets out the numbers of fatal accidents over the last 10 years:
	
		
			  Number of fatal accidents 
		
		
			 1990–91 3 
			 1991–92 (36)1 
			 1992–93 0 
			 1993–94 (36)1 
			 1994–95 4 
			 1995–96 0 
			 1996–97 (36)1 
			 1997–98 (36)1 
			 1998–99 0 
			 1999–2000 (36)1 
			 2000–01 5 
			 2001–02 (36)2 
		
	
	(36) Indicates a fatal accident to an employee.
	Following a number of fatal accidents at fairground rides in 2000 the Health and Safety Commission (HSC)/Executive (HSE) carried out a fundamental review of fairground safety, in consultation with the fairground industry.
	The Review considered that the current regulatory regime is fit for purpose as a flexible framework for continuing to improve accident prevention. It is based on a sound framework of law and industry-specific guidance, receives high level of support from the leaders of industry, and has been shown to be enforceable by the Health and Safety Executive. If it is complied with fully, competently and diligently the risks of death and injury will be minimised.
	However, the Review also recognised that reforms could be made to improve standards of safety in the fairground industry and made a number of recommendations to strengthen the existing regime including that inspectors should specialise more in relation to this industry. HSE has now established a National Fairground Inspection Team to improve consistency of approach and to use to the maximum the expertise and experience of the HSE Inspectors working in this area.
	There are therefore are no immediate plans for further reforms of fairground safety. The Health and Safety Executive has acted upon recommendations contained in the fundamental review of fairground safety that reported to the Health and Safety Commission in September 2001. Additional legislative controls remain an option should there be deterioration in compliance with the existing regime or in accidents.

Access to Financial Services

Patsy Calton: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on his Department's response to the recommendations in the report of Policy Action Team 14 on Access to Financial Services on the scope of the Social Fund.

Malcolm Wicks: We are committed to reducing social and financial exclusion and have given careful consideration to the recommendation of Policy Action Team 14 on extending the scope of Social Fund loans to people in low-paid employment.
	The discretionary Social Fund provides grants and loans to help some of the neediest people in our society manage a wide range of unexpected or occasional costs. Over 1.2 million budgeting loans were made last year to people with the lowest incomes, receiving income support or income-based jobseeker's allowance. We have no current plans to extend access to budgeting loans to people with higher incomes as such help would be poorly targeted and potentially very costly.
	We continue to keep all aspects of the fund under review.

Ageism

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proposals he has to tackle age discrimination in the workplace; and what options are open to older people who have been discriminated against without going to the courts.

Ian McCartney: We have made a pledge to tackle age discrimination and we are committed to introducing age legislation covering employment, vocational training and guidance by 2006. Until the legislation is introduced there is no recourse to the courts. In the meantime older people who feel they have suffered discrimination in employment because of their age can encourage the employer to look at our website www.agepositive.gov.uk. This provides details about the business benefits of non-ageist employment practices, employer case studies, information about the forthcoming legislation and offers useful links to other organisations such as the Employers Forum on Age.
	We have been vigorously promoting the benefits of age diversity and the recruitment, training and retention of older workers to employers through our Age Positive campaign. The campaign focuses on raising employers' awareness of the business case for an age diverse workforce and encourages them to use the Code of Practice on Age Diversity in Employment to inform their employment policies. The campaign features a range of initiatives including awards events, conferences, good practice publications and guidance to promote age diversity, as well as the Age Positive website.
	The Code of Practice on Age Diversity in Employment, published in 1999, sets out the standards for non-ageist approaches to recruitment, training, promotion, redundancy and retirement. An updated version of the Code of Practice was released during Age Positive week which ran from 2 to 6 December. The Code was developed with leading organisations including the CBI, TUC, the Employers Forum on Age and Age Concern. Evaluation shows that from 1999 to 2001 the number of companies using age in recruitment has already fallen from 27 per cent. to 13 per cent., and the number of companies having a policy against employing older workers has dropped from 14 per cent. to 7 per cent.

Appointments

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions to which bodies his Department makes appointments; how many members there are (a) in total and (b) in each body; and how many of those appointed are (i) businessmen, (ii) businessmen in SMEs and (iii) businessmen in micro-businesses.

Ian McCartney: holding answer 16 December 2002
	I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Cabinet Office, on 16 December 2002, Official Report, column 606W.

Benefits

Adrian Flook: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people claimed (a) Jobseeker's Allowance, (b) child-related benefits, (c) winter fuel payments and (d) sickness-related benefits in (i) Somerset and (ii) South West England in each of the last five years.

Nick Brown: The available information is in the tables. Many benefit recipients fall within more than one category and there is therefore a degree of overlap between the figures.
	
		Number of people claiming Jobseeker's Allowance
		
			  Somerset South West Region 
		
		
			 May 1998 7,109 82,437 
			 May 1999 6,401 75,624 
			 May 2000 5,174 61,960 
			 May 2001 4,633 52,725 
			 May 2002 3,843 49,492 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Figures are unrounded.
	2. Figures are not seasonally adjusted.
	Source:
	Jobseeker's Allowance Computer System, 100 per cent. claimant count.
	
		Number of families receiving Child Benefit
		
			  Somerset South West Region 
		
		
			 August 1999 57,295 567,910 
			 August 2000 57,360 568,940 
			 August 2001 57,360 568,440 
			 August 2002 57,705 567,930 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 5.
	2. Figures by county and region are not available prior to 1999.
	Source:
	Child Benefit Computer System, 100 per cent. claimant count.
	
		Number of families on key benefits
		
			  Somerset South West Region  
		
		
			 May 1998 8,400 92,100 
			 May 1999 7,600 90,300 
			 May 2000 7,500 85,000 
			 May 2001 7,300 82,700 
			 May 2002 7,000 78,200 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Key benefits are Income Support and Jobseekers Allowance with a child premium, and Incapacity Benefit Severe Disablement Allowance with a child dependency increase.
	2. Child premia and child dependency increases are paid for children under 16 and young adult dependents aged 16–18 for whom Child Benefit is payable.
	Source:
	DWP Information Centre Client Group Analysis, 5 per cent. statistical samples.
	
		Winter Fuel Payment recipients
		
			 Winter Somerset South West Region 
		
		
			 1999–2000 103,600 1,003,100 
			 2000–01 113,700 1,098,900 
			 2001–02 116,200 1,112,200 
		
	
	Note:
	Figures have been rounded to the nearest hundred.
	Source:
	Winter Fuel Payment Matching Intelligence Data Analysis Service, 100 per cent. data.
	
		Number of people claiming sickness related benefits
		
			  Somerset South West Region 
		
		
			 May 1998 15,300 166,900 
			 May 1999 15,700 172,300 
			 May 2000 15,700 174,700 
			 May 2001 16,600 179,600 
			 May 2002 17,200 182,600 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Sickness related benefits are Incapacity Benefit, Severe Disablement Allowance and Income Support with a disability premium.
	2. Figures are rounded to the nearest hundred.
	Source:
	DWP Information Centre Client Group Analysis, 5 per cent. statistical samples.

Benefits

Howard Flight: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many (a) income support claimants and (b) incapacity benefit claimants there were in each year since 1997.

Nick Brown: The information is in the tables.
	
		People claiming incapacity benefit
		
			 Date Number 
		
		
			 May 1997 2,370,500 
			 May 1998 2,316,900 
			 May 1999 2,277,500 
			 May 2000 2,263,200 
			 May 2001 2,327,000 
			 May 2002 2,365,700 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Figures are rounded to the nearest hundred.
	2. Figures are subject to a degree of sampling variation.
	3. Figures include a number of people claiming for national insurance credit purposes only.
	4. Figures include a small number of people resident overseas.
	Source
	5 per cent. samples of the incapacity benefit computer system, which exclude a small number of cases held clerically.
	
		People receiving income support
		
			 Date Working age Non working age Total  
		
		
			 May 1997 2,425,500 1,532,600 3,958,100 
			 May 1998 2,380,100 1,473,000 3,853,100 
			 May 1999 2,377,700 1,436,700 3,814,400 
			 May 2000 2,385,200 1,425,300 3,810,500 
			 May 2001 2,401,800 1,526,100 3,927,900 
			 May 2002 2,378,000 1,551,800 3,929,800 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Figures are rounded to the nearest hundred
	2. Figures are based on a 5 per cent. sample and are therefore subject to a degree of sampling variation
	3. Working age is defined as under 60 for women and under 65 for men
	Source:
	Income Support Quarterly Statistical Enquiries.

Child Support Payments

Denis Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what progress is being made to speed up the introduction of the proposed changes to the method of calculating child support payments for (a) new and (b) current cases.

Malcolm Wicks: I refer my hon. Friend to the written answer I gave the hon. Member for Galloway and Upper Nithsdale (Mr. Duncan) on 27 November 2002, Official Report, column 317W.

Christmas Expenses

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many departmental Christmas cards he and his Ministers intend to send in 2002; how much these cards will cost (a) to buy, (b) to post and (c) in staff time to sign, address and place in envelopes; and if he will place in the Library a sample copy of the official Christmas card he has sent this year.

Ian McCartney: A total of 1,230 Christmas cards were purchased for our Ministers at a total cost of #1,619.34. All expenditure incurred in the purchase and despatch of official Christmas cards is made in accordance with the departmental guidance on financial procedures and propriety, based on the principles set out in Government Accounting. As it is Christmas, I have sent the hon. Member a Christmas card.

Civil Servants

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many civil servants are employed by his Department; and how much money was spent by his Department in the last 12 months, broken down by local authority area.

Ian McCartney: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my hon. Friend, the Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office on 17 December 2002, Official Report, column 608W.

Community Care Grant

Patsy Calton: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what change in real terms spending power was provided by the cash rise in the community care grant budget from 1997–1998 to 2002–03; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: The community care grant budget, previously frozen since 1994, has been increased four times since 1997. In 1997–98 the community care grant budget was #97 2 million, which in 2002–03 prices is equivalent to #109.2 1 million. The 2002–03 community care grant budget is #108 2 million, a drop of #1.2 million, or 1.1 per cent.
	At the same time there has been a drop in the number of people receiving income-related benefits which give access to community care grants (Income Support, the Minimum Income Guarantee and income-based Jobseeker's Allowance. Between 1997–98 and 2000–01 the reduction was 9.9 per cent. 3 and a further fall in the numbers is forecast with an expected drop of 10.8 per cent. between 1997–98 and 2002–03 3 . As a result, the per capita amount available to people eligible for community care grants has risen by 10.8 per cent. in real terms.
	1 'Real terms' refers to 2002–03 prices, calculated using HM Treasury's GDP deflator series, published on 27 November 2002. The GDP deflator for 2002–03 is a working assumption.
	Sources:
	2 Secretary of State's Annual Reports on the Social Fund 1997–98 and 2001–02.
	3 Benefit Forecasting and Model Development Division's latest expenditure and case load tables.

Community Care Grant

Patsy Calton: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the standard of decision-making on community care grant applications.

Malcolm Wicks: We announced in the PBR that we will be working with the Treasury to improve Social Fund administration and delivery. We already have procedures in place which aim to drive though a continuous programme of improvement in all benefit decision making.
	As part of the Department's national Decision Making and Appeals quality checking programme, a specialist Social Fund team monitors the quality of decision making on all elements of the Social Fund. The programme is complemented by local quality checks. The primary function of these procedures is to identify trends in decision making which require remedial action and inform staff training and guidance needs.
	The Independent Review Service for the Social Fund (IRS) provides an impartial review for customers who are dissatisfied with the outcome of their application to the discretionary Social Fund, following an internal review by a DWP reviewing officer. Around 1 per cent. of decisions are referred to the IRS for review. In November 2001, the IRS published a report XGrants Budgets and Decision Making" which sought to explain the relatively high number of community care grant decisions which it was substituting. In response to the report, the Department has made further improvements to the Social Fund guidance for decision makers on prioritisation and budgetary control. The IRS also provides valuable feedback to local offices on the standard of decision making in every case it sees.

Community Care Grant

Patsy Calton: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will change the rules and guidance for community care grants and crisis loans to ensure that applicants without (a) a cooker and (b) a bed are given a grant or loan.

Malcolm Wicks: The discretionary Social Fund provides people on low incomes with grants and loans to help them manage a wide range of unexpected or occasional costs, including the purchase of beds and cookers, depending on their individual circumstances.
	On 27 November, we announced that from April 2003, #90 million will be added to the discretionary fund over the three years to 2005–06. This extra investment will enhance the fund's ability to help those on low incomes manage their finances.
	We have already introduced a number of important changes to the Social Fund. We have simplified the budgeting loan scheme so that all applicants who satisfy the qualifying conditions, and have no outstanding Social Fund debt, will be offered a loan. We have also extended the qualifying conditions for community care grants to help people setting up home in the community who have been without a settled way of life.

Community Care Grant

Patsy Calton: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will extend the eligibility for community care grants and budgeting loans from the Social Fund to people (a) whose sole income is (i) incapacity benefit and (ii) contribution based jobseekers allowance and (b) who are receiving the maximum child tax credit.

Malcolm Wicks: The discretionary Social Fund provides grants and loans to help some of the neediest people in our society manage a wide range of unexpected or occasional costs. Around 1.5 million community care grants and budgeting loans were made last year to people with the lowest incomes, receiving Income Support or income-based Jobseekers Allowance. We have taken the view that access to the discretionary Fund should not be extended to people with higher incomes as such help would be poorly targeted and potentially very costly.
	We continue to keep all aspects of the Fund under review.

Crisis Loans

Patsy Calton: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the arrangements are for customers to apply for and receive a crisis loan when they live a long way from the office that decides upon crisis loan applications.

Malcolm Wicks: We recognise that crisis loan applicants normally require a same day service. Individual managers understand local problems and geography and are responsible for making suitable arrangements for the delivery of, and access to, all locally-administered benefits including the Social Fund.
	Exceptionally, where a customer is unable to visit their local office, for example an elderly or disabled person with restricted mobility, or a person who lives a long way from the office and who has no access to suitable transport, they may contact the office by telephone to request a home visit. If the information given by the applicant indicates that a crisis loan is likely to be awarded, a visit may be made for the application to be completed and, where appropriate, the loan to be paid.
	We believe that the current arrangements are sufficiently flexible to support a good standard of delivery to customers, regardless of their location.

Departmental Training

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many of his Department's staff have been sent on (a) training days and (b) training weekends in the last 12 months; and what the total cost of this training has been.

Ian McCartney: During the 12 month period ending March 2002, the most recent year for which these data are available, the Department spent #97.3 million on staff training and development. This equates to an average of just under #800 for each member of Staff in the Department.
	The information on training undertaken at weekends is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Drug Addicts

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many former drug addicts are in paid employment.

Nick Brown: The information requested is not available.
	We are committed to helping unemployed people who are taking positive steps to overcome their drug problem to move into work. Earlier this year, we introduced the Progress2work initiative to give recovering drug misusers the extra help they need to get into employment.
	Progress2work provides specialist support to help recovering drug misusers also to make the best use of our welfare to work initiatives and move into jobs. It equips Jobcentre Plus staff with the skills and knowledge they need to better identify people whose drug misuse puts them at a disadvantage in the labour market, and refer them to appropriate provision.
	We launched the first Progress2work projects in the spring, in 27 pathfinder areas throughout the country, including one in my hon. Friend's constituency. We are now extending the initiative to a further 36 areas and plan to roll out the programme nationally from next year.

Economic Inactivity

Howard Flight: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people aged between 50 and state pension age were economically inactive in each year since 1998.

Nick Brown: The information is in the table:
	
		
			 Year/quarter Number of economically inactive people aged 50-State pension age Percentage of 50-State pension age population 
		
		
			 1998   
			 Spring 2,569,000 31.3 
			 Summer 2,568,000 31.0 
			 Autumn 2,549,000 30.6 
			 Winter 2,546,000 30.4 
			
			 1999   
			 Spring 2,577,000 30.7 
			 Summer 2,609,000 30.9 
			 Autumn 2,600,000 30.6 
			 Winter 2,616,000 30.7 
			
			 2000   
			 Spring 2,594,000 30.3 
			 Summer 2,592,000 30.1 
			 Autumn 2,610,000 30.2 
			 Winter 2,597,000 29.9 
			
			 2001   
			 Spring 2,600,000 29.8 
			 Summer 2,594,000 29.7 
			 Autumn 2,613,000 29.8 
			 Winter 2,621,000 29.8 
			
			 2002   
			 Spring 2,614,000 29.6 
			 Summer 2,587,000 29.2 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Figures have been seasonally adjusted.
	2. The data in this table have been adjusted to reflect the 2001 Census population data, but may be subject to further adjustment.
	3. Denominator of the rate is all people in the age group.
	Source:
	Labour Force Survey

Employment Zones

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many people have been helped into sustained employment via the Employment Zone scheme (a) in each year since its introduction and (b) broken down according to each employment zone; and what his definition of sustained employment is for this purpose;
	(2)  how much has been (a) budgeted and (b) spent on the Employment Zone scheme in each year since its introduction (i) in total and (ii) in each zone; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Brown: holding answer 9 December 2002
	Between April 2000, when they were launched, and September 2002, Employment Zones have helped 29,144 people into work. Of these, 21,001 have been helped into sustained employment (i.e. jobs lasting more than 13 weeks).
	Information on the number of people helped into sustained employment in each Employment Zone is in the following table. The majority of Contract 1 job outcomes have been notified to the Department. A large number of participants recruited onto Contract 2 remain on the programme. Their job outcomes will continue to be notified to, and validated by, the Department. The Contract 2 figures will, therefore, continue to increase.
	
		Number of people helped into sustained employment
		
			 Employment zone April 2000– July 2001 (Contract 1) July 2001– June 2002 (Contract 2) 
		
		
			 Birmingham 2,847 1,421 
			 Brent 702 248 
			 Brighton and Hove 872 330 
			 Doncaster and Bassetlaw 457 324 
			 Glasgow 1,790 598 
			 Haringey 1,814 367 
			 Liverpool and Sefton 1,691 658 
			 Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland 593 233 
			 Newham 876 304 
			 North West Wales 300 47 
			 Nottingham 297 248 
			 Plymouth 469 187 
			 Southwark 1,165 522 
			 Tower Hamlets 592 356 
			 Heads of the Valley, Caerphilly and Torfaen 432 261 
		
	
	Note:
	Employment Zones vary in size and coverage.
	Source:
	Employment Zone Management Information
	Information on the total budget and expenditure on the Employment Zone initiative is as follows:
	
		# million 
		
			  Total budget Total expenditure 
		
		
			 2000–01 56.4 72.0 
			 2001–02 87.0 (37)95.5  
			 2002–03 91.3 Not yet available 
		
	
	(37) Forecast
	Source:
	Jobcentre Plus
	These increases reflect a rise in the number of Employment Zone clients, and the high level of performance achieved by the zones.
	Information on budgets and expenditure for individual Employment Zones cannot be published because they are commercially confidential. Both budget and expenditure figures include benefit equivalent payments made to participants while on the Employment Zone.
	Based on the April 2000—June 2001 cohort study, the average cost per job in Employment Zones is around #3,400. The cohort study covers those people who have completed their time on the Employment Zone.

Health and Safety

Andrew Bennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many inspections per band 3 inspector are made on average in the North West Division of the Health and Safety Executive each working week; and what proposals there are to increase the frequency of inspections, excluding complaint and accident investigations;
	(2)  what action has been taken to increase the inspection rate of principal inspectors and band 3 inspectors at the North West Division Office of the Health and Safety Executive.

Nick Brown: In the 25 working weeks between 7 April 2002—the start of the Health and Safety Executive's Field Operations Directorate's working year—and 28 September 2002—half-year stage—each band 3 operational inspector in HSE's North West Division made, on average, two inspection contacts per week. In addition, on average, each band 3 operational inspector made one investigation contact, one complaint follow-up contact and one enforcement contact per week.
	These figures do not include any inspection or other contacts made by HSE's Construction Division or other operating directorates in the North West.
	A number of actions have been taken to increase the contact time of band 3 inspectors in HSE's Field Operations Directorate and work continues to explore further steps. These actions will allow more work involving direct contact with duty-holders to take place; this includes investigation work as well as inspections. Actions being investigated or taken include: (i) enabling administrative staff to input data relating to inspection contacts; (ii) increasing direct administrative resource to support inspectors; (iii) providing better information on the work of inspectors to allow management support to be given to those who need it most and (iv) promulgating best practice by those inspectors who achieve the highest proportion of their time inspecting.
	Principal Inspectors (band 2) are a management grade and are not set targets for inspection work. They carry out operational work according to need and for a number of reasons, including to remain familiar with work conditions and practices, to monitor the standards of their staff and to train new staff.
	HSE does not measure, nor have a target for, the frequency of inspections to particular workplaces except for those where risks are highest. HSE targets most inspections according to hazard and risk. The Field Operations Directorate is currently investigating ways of increasing the proportion of time inspectors spend in contact with duty holders.
	The role of an operational band 3 inspector is not limited to inspections: around 50 per cent. of their available time is spent dealing with reactive work, ie: incident and complaint investigation. In the first 25 weeks of 2002–03 operational band 3 inspectors in the North West Division made a total of 3,571 regulatory contacts, broken down as in the table:
	
		
			  Inspection Enforcement RIDDOR investigation Complaint follow-up Others 
		
		
			 Total contacts of type 1,539 517 875 402 238 
			 Numbers per Band 3 Inspector per week 2 1 1 1 0.5

Health and Safety

Andrew Bennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what formal qualifications the (a) Director General and (b) Deputy Director General (Operations) of HSE have in health and safety management.

Nick Brown: Following open competition, both appointments were made by the Health and Safety Commission and approved by the relevant Secretary of State. The principal requirements are the ability to direct and manage a large and complex organisation. Neither have specific health and safety management qualifications. However, they have access to advice on the management of health and safety issues from HSE's staff who collectively have comprehensive and authoritative expertise. I am advised that both are fully acquainted with health and safety legislation, to perform their official functions in HSE as well as management of the organization.

Health and Safety

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many companies were (a) investigated by the Health and Safety Executive and (b) convicted of health and safety offences in 2001–02 in (i) the North East and (ii) the UK; and what the average fine was for companies convicted of health and safety offences in each year from 1997–2002 in (A) the North East and (B) the UK.

Nick Brown: The number of companies (a) investigated by the Health and Safety Executive and (b) convicted of health and safety offences in 2001–02 in (i) the North East and (ii) Great Britain is as follows.
	
		
			  Companies investigated Companies convicted  
			 Year North East Great Britain North East Great Britain 
		
		
			 2001–02(38),(39) 635 6,994 48 691  
		
	
	(38) From 1 April 2001 to 31 March 2002
	(39) Provisional
	The second and third columns of the table give figures for investigations of reports made under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases, and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995. In some of these companies more than one incident may have been investigated.
	The average fine imposed on companies convicted of health and safety offences in each year from 1997–98 to 2001–02 in (A) the North East and (B) Great Britain is as follows:
	
		# 
		
			  Average Fine  
			 Year North East Great Britain 
		
		
			 2001–02(40) 3,464 11,722 
			 2000–01 7,208 8,073 
			 1999–2000 4,358 9,034 
			 1998–99 3,908 4,303 
			 1997–98 3,900 6,222 
		
	
	(40) Provisional

Housing Benefit

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions under what circumstances a person making a fresh claim for housing benefit in one of the proposed pilot areas for housing benefit reform after the pilots have begun will receive less housing benefit than under the existing rules.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 28 November 2002
	The standard local housing allowance will provide a better, quicker service based on simpler, clearer rules, and will for the first time give tenants real choice over their housing decisions.
	The standard allowance will be calculated on the same basis as the existing local reference rent. The scheme is therefore designed so that tenants should not be worse off than if they had claimed under the existing rules. In fact, current estimates suggest that around half of affected tenants will gain from the reforms when compared to the existing rules. Details of the scheme will be contained in regulations, which will be subject to the usual parliamentary scrutiny.

Housing Benefit

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate (a) how many and (b) what percentage of housing benefit claimants' housing benefit entitlement meets less than 100 per cent. of their rent due, because of (i) income from employment, (ii) other income, (iii) rent restrictions, (iv) non-dependent deductions and (v) other reasons, broken down by (A) local authority (B) housing association, and (C) private sector tenure.

Malcolm Wicks: Information on the number of Housing Benefit recipients whose benefit is currently reduced because of rent restrictions is not collected. However, based on the number of referrals made to the Rent Service, we estimate that in around 67 per cent. of cases, tenants in the deregulated private rented sector would have their rent restricted under the reference rent schemes or other property-based criteria if their Housing Benefit claims were successful.
	The table shows the total number of Housing Benefit recipients by tenure type and the number and proportions of these who receive an amount less than their eligible rent, at May 2001. The eligible rent is the amount of rent which may be met by Housing Benefit after ineligible charges have been deducted and, in the case of tenants in the deregulated private rented sector, after any restrictions have been applied by the rent officer.
	
		
			 HB recipients receiving an amount less than their eligible rent:  
			  All HB recipients   With income from employment  With other income  With non-dependant deductions  
			 Tenure type Number Number Per cent. Number Per cent. Number Per cent. 
		
		
			 Local Authority 2,133,000 113,000 5.3 469,000 22 100,000 4.7 
			 Registered Social Landlord 998,000 74,000 7.4 222,000 22.3 32,000 3.2 
			 Private Rented Sector 743,000 78,000 10.5 144,000 19.4 16,000 2.1 
			 Total 3,874,000 264,000 6.8 836,000 21.6 147,000 3.8 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. The data refer to households claiming Housing Benefit which may be a single person, a couple or a family. More than one benefit household can live in one property, for example two or more adults in a flat or house share arrangement.
	2. Figures are rounded to the nearest thousand.
	3. Percentages refer to the percentage of all Housing Benefit recipients in each type of tenure and are rounded to one decimal place.
	4. Figures exclude any Extended Payment cases.
	5. Figures for any non-responding authorities have been estimated.
	6. Figures are subject to a degree of sampling error.
	7. The number of Housing Benefit recipients receiving less than their eligible rent for
	reasons other than those stated is negligible.
	8. There may be some overlap in the figures, as recipients will be counted each time they fall into any of the three categories mentioned.
	Source:
	Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit Management Information System
	Annual 1 per cent. sample taken in May 2001.

Incapacity Benefit

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many claimants have been in receipt of incapacity benefit payment for (a) six months or less, (b) between six months and one year, (c) between one and two years and (d) between two and five years; what the average period of payment is for current claimants of incapacity benefit and what the comparable averages were in each year since 1997; how many people received incapacity benefit in each year since 1997; and how many of these represented new claims;
	(2)  how many new claimants of incapacity benefit in the last six months represented (a) transfers from other social security benefits, (b) people moving from employment onto benefit and (c) people moving onto benefit from unknown origins;
	(3)  how many people leaving incapacity benefit in the last six months represented (a) transfers to other social security benefits, (b) people moving from benefit into employment and (c) people moving off benefit to unknown destinations.
	(4)  what percentage of the working age population is in receipt of incapacity benefit; and what the comparable averages were in each year since 1997;
	(5)  how many claimants of incapacity benefit in the last six months had been in receipt of either (a) jobseeker's allowance and (b) income support at any time during the previous 12 months.

Nick Brown: holding answer 9 December 2002
	The Green Paper XPathways to Works: Helping People into Employment" (Cm 5690) sets out our strategy for enabling people with health problems and disabilities to move into work, and so become and remain independent. At the heart of this strategy is tailored and intensive support delivered in a new Choices Package, giving help to those with the clear potential to get back into work. These measures will be piloted from October 2003.
	The available information is set out in the tables.
	
		Number of people in Great Britain receiving Incapacity Benefit (IB) at 31 May 2002, by the duration of their IB claim
		
			 Duration of IB claim Number 
		
		
			  
			 Under six months 132,400 
			 Six months to one year 95,800 
			 One to two years 168,100 
			 Two to five years 352,900 
		
	
	Notes: 
	1. Figures are rounded to the nearest hundred.
	2. The figures include a small number of cases where the customer is resident overseas.
	Average claim duration for Incapacity Benefit (IB) recipients
	Source
	Figures are taken from a 5 per cent sample of the benefit computer system and exclude a small number of cases held clerically.
	
		
			  Average duration (weeks) 
		
		
			 31 March 1997 292 
			 31 March 1998 302 
			 31 March 1999 315 
			 31 March 2000 326 
			 31 March 2001 328 
		
	
	Notes: 
	1. Average duration has been rounded to the nearest week.
	2. Average durations include all Incapacity Benefit recipients at a point in time, including those who leave benefit within a year.
	Source
	Figures are taken from 1 per cent samples of cases.
	
		Number of people receiving Incapacity Benefit (IB) in Great Britain at some time within the dates shown, and how many of these were new awards within that year
		
			 Year Numbers receiving IB at some time in the previous year Numbers receiving IB at the dates shown Numbers of non-linking(41) awards within the periods shown 
		
		
			 01/04/96 to 31/03/97 2,362,000 1,798,000 488,000 
			 01/04/97 to 31/03/98 2,287,000 1,729,000 456,000 
			 1/04/98 to 31/03/99 2,125,000 1,615,000 379,000 
			 01/04/99 to 31/03/00 1,995,000 1,514,000 364,000 
			 01/04/00 to 31/03/01 1,979,000 1,573,000 388,000 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Unlike Invalidity Benefit which it replaced on 13 April 1995 long term rate Incapacity Benefit is not payable to people over state pension age. This change contributed to the reduction in the numbers receiving Incapacity Benefit between 1995 and 2000. People who had reached pension age before 13 April and were in receipt of Incapacity Benefit were able to get Incapacity Benefit for up to five years beyond pension age.
	2. XNon-linking" awards refer to periods of IB which do not link with a previous claim to IB, although they may link with statutory sick pay.
	3. The figures include a small number of cases where the customer is resident overseas.
	4. Numbers are rounded to the nearest thousand.
	5. Some people may be counted more than once if they have two awards within the year that do not link with each other.
	Source
	Figures are taken from 1 per cent samples of cases.
	
		New awards or claims of Incapacity Benefit (IB) by benefit status at a point in time up to six months before the start of the IB spell
		
			  1/12/01 to 31/5/02 
		
		
			 No benefit or tax credit 160,300 
			 Social security benefits with or without tax credit 126,300 
			 Tax credit only 13,000 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Figures are rounded to the nearest hundred.
	3. It is not possible to determine exactly how many of those moving from no benefits/tax credits were in employment.
	Source:
	Figures taken from 5 per cent samples of the Incapacity Benefit, and Client Group Working Age data sets, for the periods shown above.
	
		Destinations of people leaving Incapacity Benefit
		
			  1/9/01 to 28/2/02 
		
		
			 To basic State Pension / Are within 3 months of state pension age 21,500 
			 To another benefit within three months(42) 81,900 
			 To Working Families Tax Credit/Disabled Persons Tax Credit within three months(43) 6,200 
			 Unknown, including employment 252,700 
			 Total 362,300 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Figures are rounded to the nearest hundred.
	2. Based on cases moving to Income Support, Jobseeker's Allowance, Severe Disablement Allowance within three months of the termination of their claim to Incapacity Benefit.
	3. Figures are based on cases moving to Working Families Tax Credit, or Disabled Persons Tax Credit.
	Source
	Figures are based on 5 per cent. samples of DWP Information Centre administrative data.
	
		
			  IB recipients as a percentage of working age population 
		
		
			 31 May 2001 4.3 
			 31 May 2002 4.3 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Figures include a small number of cases where the customer is resident overseas.
	2. Population data are from the Office for National Statistics mid-2001 population estimates.
	3. Following the 2001 Census, revised population data for years prior to 2001 are not yet available but are due to be released in February 2003.
	Source
	Figures are from 5 per cent samples of the benefit computer system, which excludes a small number of cases held clerically.
	
		Number of Incapacity Benefit (IB) awards starting in the period 1 December 2001 to 31 May 2002 where the recipient had been in receipt of Jobseeker's Allowance
		
			 (JSA) or Income Support (IS) at some time in the previous year  
		
		
			  
			 Both IS and JSA 26,100 
			 IS only 37,400 
			 JSA only 79,900 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Not all of these shown in the table will have moved directly from JSA or IS to IB, some will have worked in between claims.
	2. Figures are rounded to the nearest hundred.
	3. Includes a small number of cases where the customer is resident overseas.
	4. Excludes a small number of short duration Income Support claims.
	Source
	Figures are taken from merges between 5 per cent. samples of the IS, JSA and IB benefit computer systems.

Incapacity Benefit

Howard Flight: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his policy is on paying incapacity benefit for fixed terms; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Brown: We have no plans to introduce fixed term awards of Incapacity Benefit. Entitlement is based, in the first instance, on an individual's contribution record and is determined thereafter by the Personal Capability Assessment, which is a functional test carried out periodically to assess an individual's ability to perform a range of every-day work-related activities.
	We believe that people moving onto Incapacity Benefits should be regarded not as people at the end of their working lives, but people with working futures. Our Green Paper, XPathways to Work: Helping people into employment" (Cm5690) sets out our strategy for enabling people on Incapacity Benefits to move into work, and so become and remain independent. From late October 2003, we will offer in pilot areas: early, more frequent support from skilled personal advisers; direct access to a range of comprehensive specialist programmes; and clear financial incentives to work.

Incapacity Benefit

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate has been made of the proportion of incapacity benefit claimants who are also eligible for income support; and how many people in this category receive income support.

Nick Brown: The Department has made no estimate of the proportion of people claiming incapacity benefit who would be eligible for income support. However, in May 2002, there were 1,026,500 people claiming incapacity benefit and also receiving income support.
	Notes:
	1. Figure is rounded to the nearest hundred and is subject to a degree of sampling variation.
	2. Figure includes cases where people are claiming incapacity benefit, but receiving national insurance credits only.
	Source:
	Figure is based on merged five per cent. samples of Incapacity Benefit and Severe Disablement Allowance Quarterly Summary Statistics, May 2002, and the Income Support Quarterly Statistical Enquiry, May 2002.

Individual Learning Account

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what alternative arrangements have been made by his Department in respect of those persons on the New Deal who would previously have received assistance via the individual learning account scheme; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Brown: holding answer 9 December 2002
	The individual learning account (ILA) programme was open to everyone aged 19 or over in England. The overall aim was to widen participation in learning and to help individuals overcome the financial barriers to learning they may have faced. ILA support could be used for non job specific career learning.
	The New Deals offer people looking for work job-focused learning and training opportunities, specifically tailored to meet their individual needs. We are providing New Deal clients with the knowledge and skills they need to compete effectively in the labour market and move into work.
	The New Deal 50 plus offers clients help with training through a training grant. In January 2002 we doubled the grant to #1,500. Of this, the amount that can be used for non job specific career training was also doubled to #300.

Intermediate Labour Programmes

Archy Kirkwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many intermediate labour market programmes have received funding over the last five years; and how much they have received.

Nick Brown: We have this year launched 20 StepUP pilots offering guaranteed jobs for up to 5,000 long-term unemployed people. We are investing #40 million in the first two years of the pilot programme. The StepUP pilots are testing the use of intermediate labour markets for those who have not found work through the New Deal. The evaluation of StepUP will provide reliable evidence about the cost effectiveness of this type of intervention, and will inform decisions on the wider use of transitional employment schemes in our welfare to work strategy.
	Separately, some New Deal providers match New Deal monies with their own funds to create intermediate labour market opportunities for individual participants. Information on the number of such arrangements and the expenditure incurred is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Jobcentre Plus

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  which local authority areas have been selected to receive additional points in respect of the Jobcentre Plus Job Entry Target set by his Department; what criteria were applied when selecting the areas; whom he consulted in respect of the selection; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what the criteria are by which additional points are scored in relation to the Jobcentre Plus Job Entry Target scheme; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what criteria he applied when determining the Jobcentre Plus Job Entry Target points score to be given to each type of priority client; and what guidance has been given to Jobcentre Plus staff on the way in which such clients should be prioritised in relation to (a) other priority client groups and (b) other clients.

Nick Brown: pursuant to his answer, 27 November 2002, Official Report, column 319W
	The Jobcentre Plus job entry targets help focus the agency's efforts and resources on helping those people on whom we want to target more support to move from welfare into work. They include lone parents, disabled people and those living in the most disadvantaged areas of the country.
	The way in which Job Entry and additional point scores have been allocated sends clear signals about our priorities to all Jobcentre Plus managers and staff who have been informed about them in writing.
	The 60 local authority areas attracting additional Job Entry point scores are in the table. These local authorities were chosen because they either have the highest unemployment rates or the highest minority ethnic populations. We consulted other Government Departments, the National Employment Panel and key stakeholders in deciding on these criteria.
	
		
			 Local authorities with lowest employment rates Local authorities with highest minority ethnic population 
		
		
			 Blaenau Gwent Barnet 
			 Caerphilly Birmingham 
			 Dundee City Bradford 
			 Easington Brent 
			 East Ayrshire Camden 
			 Glasgow City Coventry 
			 Hackney Croydon 
			 Halton Ealing 
			 Hartlepool Enfield 
			 Islington Greenwich 
			 Kingston-upon-Hull Hammersmith and Fulham 
			 Knowsley Haringey 
			 Liverpool Harrow 
			 Manchester Hillingdon 
			 Merthyr Tydfil Hounslow 
			 Middlesbrough Kensington and Chelsea 
			 Neath Port Talbot Kirklees 
			 Newcastle-upon-Tyne Lambeth 
			 Newham Leeds 
			 North Lanarkshire Leicester City 
			 Nottingham Lewisham 
			 Pembrokeshire Luton 
			 Redcar and Cleveland Merton 
			 Rhondda, Cynon, Taff Redbridge 
			 Salford Sandwell 
			 South Tyneside Sheffield 
			 Southwark Waltham Forest 
			 Sunderland Wandsworth 
			 Tower Hamlets City of Westminster 
			 West Dunbartonshire Wolverhampton

Ministerial Engagements

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many engagements were undertaken outside London (a) by him or his predecessor and (b) by Ministers in his Department in January (i) 2000, (ii) 2001 and (iii) 2002.

Ian McCartney: holding answer 16 December 2002
	I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Cabinet Office on 16 December 2002, Official Report, column 608W.

New Deal

Adrian Flook: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people (a) aged (i) over 50 and (ii) under 30, and (b) people with disabilities have signed up to the New Deal in the Taunton Constituency.

Nick Brown: The information requested is in the table.
	
		Cumulative number of participants in the New Deal in Taunton constituency
		
			 New Deal Aged 50+ Aged under 30 
		
		
			 Young People (from January 1998 to September 2002) — 859 
			 25 plus (from June 1998 to September 2002) 158 94 
			 50 plus (from April 2000 to September 2002) 160 — 
			 Lone Parents (from October 1998 to June 2002) 20 110 
		
	
	Note:
	The numbers of participants in the New Deal for Disabled People and the New Deal for Partners are not available at constituency level.

New Deal

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of persons leaving (a) the gateway period and (b) each of the options in the New Deal entered (i) unsubsidised jobs and (ii) sustained jobs in each year since the establishment of the New Deal.

Nick Brown: holding answer 9 December 2002
	The tables show the proportion of all leavers from the New Deal for Young People and re-engineered New Deal 25 plus who move into sustained, unsubsidised jobs from the gateway stage of the programme and from each of the options. In addition to these job outcomes we know from survey findings that around two-thirds of young people who leave options for unknown destinations do, in fact, find work.
	For the Employment Option of the New Deal for Young People in particular, the figures prior to 2002 reflect follow-up work with employers to confirm job outcomes. This exercise will be repeated for 2002 leavers and we expect the figure of 33 per cent. to be revised in line with previous years' figures.
	
		New Deal for Young People
		
			  Proportion of leavers moving into jobs by year (percentage)  
			 Stage of leaving New Deal 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 (to September) 
		
		
			 Gateway 49 46 44 42 40 
			 Employment Option 56 51 51 51 (41)33 
			 Full Time Education and Training 38 32 31 31 29 
			 Voluntary Sector 37 33 33 32 31 
			 Environment Task Force 33 30 31 30 32 
		
	
	(41) Initial figure.
	Note:
	By definition, all jobs gained by New Deal leavers are sustained, unsubsidised jobs (ie to have left the programme, they must not re-claim Jobseeker's Allowance within 13 weeks). All figures are immediate destinations on leaving New Deal.
	Source:
	New Deal Evaluation Database
	
		Re-engineered New Deal 25 plus
		
			  Proportion of leavers moving into jobs by year (percentage)  
			 Stage of leaving New Deal 2001 (April to Decdember) 2002 (January to September) 
		
		
			 Gateway 33 29 
			 Employment Option 13 12 
			 Basic Employability Training 26 18 
			 Self employment 35 32 
			 Education/Training Opportunity 17 19 
			 Work experience 33 21 
			 Intensive Activity Period Training 29 22 
			 Other (includes Training for Work) 3 13 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. By definition, all jobs gained by New Deal leavers are sustained, unsubsidised jobs, (ie to have left the programme, they must not re-claim Jobseeker's Allowance within13 weeks). All figures are immediate destinations on leaving New Deal.
	2. In April 2001, New Deal 25 Plus was extended and enhanced. Annual figures for leavers moving into jobs by gateway and each option of the pre-April 2001 programme are not available. Summary figures for the programme are contained in the Statistical First Release, which is available in the Library.
	Source:
	New Deal Evaluation Database

Parliamentary Questions

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many parliamentary questions to his Department were not answered during the last parliamentary Session.

Maria Eagle: Out of over 4,000 parliamentary questions tabled during 2001–02, just 13 remained unanswered at the end of the Session. Of these, nine were tabled in the final week.

Retirement Ages

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to his answer of 27 November, Official Report, column 321W, on retirement ages, what the average age of retirement is for (a) women, and (b) men, for (i) his Department's employees, and (ii) people who work in each of the executive agencies within his department.

Ian McCartney: The average age of staff, by gender, retiring from the Department and from each of the executive agencies is shown in the following table.
	
		Years 
		
			  Average age male Average age female 
		
		
			 DWP 61.2 62.4 
			 Jobcentre Plus 61.0 62.1 
			 The Pension Service 60.9 60.2 
			 Child Support Agency 61.7 62.8 
			 Appeals Service 64.0 60.0

SchlumbergerSema

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will list (a) the key performance targets and (b) other performance measures, and the levels of performance against those measures, (c) the further quality improvement measures, (d) the contractual milestones agreed for each of the key improvement projects and (e) the other contractual improvements that have been secured in respect of SchlumbergerSema; and, for each of the last 12 months, on how many occasions a financial remedy has been applied to SchlumbergerSema, and how much on each of those occasions.

Nick Brown: holding answer 12 December 2002
	A copy of the information requested has been placed in the Library.
	Service credits for failure to meet contractual service level targets have been applied in each of the last 12 months. Precise details are commercial in confidence and not disclosed under part 2, paragraph 13 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

SERPS

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of recent trends in the number of people who are contracted out of SERPS and the State Second Pension; and if he will make a statement.

Ian McCartney: holding answer 5 December 2002
	The Department for Work and Pensions is in the process of preparing an analysis of NIRS2 data for the period 1996–97 to 2000–01 showing numbers of people contracting out of SERPS/S2P over this period. The results of this analysis will be contained in a report on XSecond Tier Pension Provision" that is due to be published in the latter part of next year.

Social Fund

David Cameron: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the administrative costs of the Social Fund were in each of the last five financial years; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: The information is not available in the format requested. The Department now accounts for its administration and benefit expenditure by Strategic Objective, as set out in its Public Service Agreements (PSA), and by individual Requests for Resources (RfRs) as set out in the Departmental Estimates and Accounts.
	Estimates of the cost of administering the Social Fund are available for 1997–98 and 1998–99 and these are shown in the table.
	
		# 
		
			 Financial year Estimated Social Fund expenditure(42) 
		
		
			 1997–98 1,047,000 
			 1998–99 1,114,000 
		
	
	Note:
	The estimated expenditure includes moneys spent on both administering the recovery of Social Fund loans as well as their payment.
	Source:
	Social Security Departmental Reports 1999–2000 (Figure 50) and 2000–01 to 2001–02 (Figure 42).

Social Fund Repayments

Patsy Calton: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will commission research into the impact of Social Fund repayments on the (a) standard of living and (b) indebtedness of recipients of budgeting loans.

Malcolm Wicks: The Department has already carried out qualitative research on the Social Fund which included the views of budgeting loan recipients on repayment rates. Findings from this research are published in the Department's Research Report Series, Report numbers 125 and 172, copies of which are available in the Library.
	The Department's annual Families and Children Survey collects detailed information on families' and children's living standards and debt, including outstanding budgeting loans. Four reports are due to be published in the new year from the 2001 survey, one of which will focus on living standards and hardship issues. Copies of the reports will be placed in the Library as they are published.

War Pensions

David Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when the #10 earnings disregard for war disablements pensioners in receipt of income support was last uprated; and what has been the cumulative increase in the retail price index since that date.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 12 December 2002
	Income Support is intended to help people whose resources are insufficient to meet their day-to-day living expenses. Any income that is available to meet those expenses is normally taken fully into account. However there is a special disregard in the income-related benefits in respect of War Disablement Pension which was increased from #5 to #10 in April 1990. In addition, payments made to war disabled pensioners for their attendance or mobility needs are also disregarded in the calculation of Income Support entitlement.
	We believe that the current disregard strikes the right balance between acknowledging the special reasons for these pensions and prudent use of public funds.
	Between April 1990 and October 2002 the percentage increase in the all items retail price index has been 42.2 per cent. Income Support allowances are generally uprated using the Rossi Index which has increased by 42.8 per cent. over the same period.

Winter Fuel Payment

Denis Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many (a) persons and (b) households in the Wansbeck constituency will receive the winter fuel payment for 2002–03.

Ian McCartney: Figures for winter 2002–03 are not yet available. However, last winter 18,200 people received a winter fuel payment in the Wansbeck constituency, and we expect this year's figure to be similar.
	The exact number of households these people lived in is not available. However, 9,500 people received a #100 payment because they shared a household with at least one other eligible person, and the remaining 8,700 people each received a #200 payment.
	Source:
	Figures from Information and Analysis Directorate, using 100 per cent. extract from Matching, Intelligence and Data Analysis Service.

Winter Fuel Payment

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the cost of extending the winter fuel payments to those under 16 years is; and what percentage this represents of the total social security budget.

Ian McCartney: We estimate that the extra cost of extending Winter Fuel Payments to households which contain at least one child under the age of 16 in Great Britain would be in the region of #1.3 billion in 2002–03. This cost is based on the assumption that no one else in the household is entitled to the payment. The cost represents around 1.2 per cent. of estimated benefit expenditure in Great Britain in 2002–03.

Winter Fuel Payment

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people entitled to one or more backdated winter fuel payments as a result of the European Court decision have received one; and how many people are entitled to make a claim for a backdated payment, but have yet to do so.

Ian McCartney: Estimates show that around 1.9 million people could have been eligible for backdated payments for the first three years of the scheme and about 1.2 million people have now been paid. There is no cut off dates for these retrospective payments.
	It is not possible to provide a reliable estimate of the numbers who have not claimed because the estimate of those newly eligible was based on sample data. It is up to the individual, where a claim is necessary, to decide whether or not to make that claim.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Benefit Claimants

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many benefit claimants have been sanctioned because they have refused to take part in the pilot scheme to improve the literacy and numeracy skills of long-term unemployed people.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 19 December 2002
	Between September 2001 and April 2002, we piloted a number of approaches aimed at encouraging greater take up of basic skills provision by people claiming jobseeker's allowance. These included testing different mechanisms to identify those with basic skills needs, and the use of financial incentives and/or benefit sanctions to encourage the take up of training.
	In north Nottinghamshire we piloted the use of benefit sanctions if a client refused an offer of training or left training early without good cause. In Leeds we combined the use of sanctions with financial incentives of #20 per week on top of their benefit for clients taking up training, and #100 for those achieving a basic skills qualification. In the two pilots, 1,623 clients had a possible basic skills need identified. Of these, 18 had sanctions applied, three because they failed to attend a basic skills assessment and 15 because they failed to attend training or left early without good cause.

Child Care

David Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what plans he has to assist with child care arrangements to enable parents to take up employment;
	(2)  what plans his Department has to ease the transition from welfare to work for mothers with young children.

Nick Brown: We believe that work is the best route out of poverty, but recognise that parents can face difficulties moving into work due to the demands of balancing their work, life and family responsibilities. That is why we are providing extra help to reduce these problems and allow parents to successfully move into work.
	Help with child care costs for people looking for work is available across Great Britain through our welfare to work initiatives, such as the New Deal. For example, the New Deal for Lone Parents can provide assistance when participants attend training or take up part-time work. We are also enhancing the child care support available through Jobcentre Plus. From April 2003, a Childcare Partnership Manager will be established in every Jobcentre Plus district to ensure that jobseekers with children and their advisers have access to the latest information about child care in their area.
	For lone parents who are moving into work of over 16 hours per week, the Working Families Tax Credit (and from April 2003 the Working Tax Credit) includes the Childcare Tax Credit which can pay for up to 70 per cent. of their child care costs. New Deal Personal Advisers can also use the Adviser Discretion Fund to help pay for advance child care deposits if the lone parent is unable to do so.
	We have also recently announced an improved package of financial measures to help people make the transition into work. From October 2004 we will be introducing a new Job Grant to help people moving into a job after at least six months on benefit. Single people and couples without children will receive #100. A higher rate Grant of #250 will be paid to lone parents and to couples with children. This improved Job Grant will make a real difference in helping tide families over until their first wages are received.
	In 1998 we launched our National Childcare Strategy for England. This aims to ensure that good quality, affordable child care for children up to age 14 (and 16 for children with special educational needs and disabilities) is available in every neighbourhood.
	Since 1997, there has been a major expansion in child care provision. In England over 553,000 new child care places have been created, benefiting more than a million children. A number of Government programmes, including the Neighbourhood Childcare Initiative, are helping to extend provision in the most disadvantaged areas of the country. We are now also encouraging schools to provide and host a range of services, including child care, for the local community through our new Extended Schools programme. The 2002 Spending Review saw a doubling of child care funding to create a further 250,000 places, in new Children's Centres in disadvantaged areas and elsewhere, by 2006. This is on top of the existing target of creating new provision for 1.6 million children by 2004.
	Responsibility for policy relating to the development of child care in Scotland and Wales is a matter for the devolved administrations.

Christmas Expenses

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much will be spent on (a) entertaining, (b) Christmas decorations and (c) other festive activities this Christmas season by his Department and Government agencies answerable to his Department; and of this sum, how much will be spent in Ministers' (i) private offices and (ii) official residences.

Ian McCartney: Public funds have not been used for entertaining and Christmas decorations in private offices. Christmas cards for Ministers to issue in their official capacity have been purchased at a cost of #1,619.34. Gathering information to answer for the rest of this Department could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, any expenditure incurred on decorations, entertainment and any other festive activities is strictly for official purposes only, and is made in accordance with the departmental guidance on financial procedures and propriety, based on the principles set out in XGovernment Accounting". The Department has no official residences.

Disabled People

David Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to help disabled people back to work.

Nick Brown: Disabled people can take part in the mainstream Jobcentre Plus employment and training programmes, and have full access to all its services. In addition, Jobcentre Plus has a range of specialist employment programmes to support disabled people who want to work. The Access to Work programme provides advice and practical help for disabled people with the additional employment costs, for example, in travelling to work, adapting the work place, obtaining special equipment and support workers, which result from disability. WORKSTEP provides job support to disabled people who face more complex barriers to finding and keeping work.
	Our New Deal for Disabled People is the first national programme designed specifically to support people with health conditions and disabilities move into and keep jobs. Since the national extension of the programme began, it has helped over 6,000 people into jobs and nearly 28,000 have registered with job brokers to actively pursue employment. Disabled people can also take part in other Jobcentre Plus employment programmes, and have full access to all its services.
	Our Green Paper, XPathways to Work: Helping People into Employment' (Cm 5690), sets out our strategy for enabling people with health problems and disabilities to move into work, and so become and remain independent. From late October 2003, we will offer in pilot areas: early, more frequent support from skilled personal advisers; direct access to a range of comprehensive specialist programmes; and clear financial incentives to work.

Employment (Disability)

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what financial assistance he makes available to specialist employment providers and agencies in the fields of (a) physical disability, (b) learning difficulties and (c) mental illness.

Nick Brown: Jobcentre Plus has a range of specialist programmes for people with disabilities, providing support in finding, keeping and training for work. In order to deliver this provision, Jobcentre Plus contracts with a range of specialist providers through the access to work, work preparation, WORKSTEP and residential training programmes.
	These programmes are available to people with all disabilities; however, in some parts of the country there are also programmes designed specifically for people with learning difficulties, brain injuries and muscular skeletal conditions.

Gas Pipes

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what percentage of the gas mains network operated by Transco is over (a) 30, (b) 50 and (c) 75 years old.

Nick Brown: I am informed by the Health and Safety Executive that detailed information is unavailable. However, it was estimated in September 2001, when HSE announced the accelerated iron mains replacement programme that most iron mains—about 60 per cent.—were over 40 years old; and some were over 100 years old.

Gas Pipes

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment the Heath and Safety Executive has made of Transco's system of record keeping for the gas mains network; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Brown: I am informed by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) that they have met with Transco to discuss their arrangements for data handling, the last occasion being 21 November 2002. Their arrangements have been subject to an internal audit. HSE have asked for an independent review of compliance with and the quality of the arrangements themselves.

Habitual Residence Test

David Lepper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many (a) decisions were made and (b) appeals were submitted in relation to the habitual residence test in respect of the area covered by the Brighton Phoenix, Brighton Pavilion and Hove Jobcentre Plus offices in each year between 1997 and 2001–02; and how many of the people who lost benefit in relation to the habitual residents test were UK citizens.

Malcolm Wicks: The available information is in the table:
	
		Habitual residency test (HRT) Brighton and Hove social security offices(42)
		
			  1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 
		
		
			 Total number of HRT decisions made 1,509 1,398 1,272 876 613 
			 Total number of appeals submitted against HRT decisions 67 32 43 12 15 
			 Total number of UK citizens found to have no entitlement to benefit following an HRT decision(43) 74 116 57 44 60 
		
	
	(42) These offices make decisions on all HRT cases for claims made through Brighton Phoenix, Brighton Pavilion, Hove, Newhaven, Lewes and Brighton Regent Jobcentres. It is not possible to disaggregate the figures for individual Jobcentres.
	(43) Figures include cases where the original decision has been upheld on appeal.
	Source:
	Management Information Statistics Program (MISP) and local office data.

Jobcentres (Advertisements)

Martin Caton: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions in what circumstances names and addresses of employers advertising in jobcentres are withheld; and why.

Nick Brown: Names and addresses of employers advertising in jobcentres are withheld from members of the public responding to the advertised vacancies in two circumstances:
	where a job is advertised to work in a private household and the householder has requested that their home address is not immediately disclosed for reasons of safety and privacy, and;
	where a job is notified by an employment agency acting on behalf of, or contracted to supply workers to, a third party employer. This is to ensure that jobseekers do not go directly to the end employer who has specifically commissioned the agency to act on their behalf.

Jobseekers Allowance

Frank Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people have been refused all Jobseekers Allowance payments after interview in the last year for which figures are available; and what proportion this represented of those interviewed.

Malcolm Wicks: The information is not available. All people claiming Jobseekers Allowance are required to attend an initial jobseeker's interview. However the data collected by the Department do not distinguish between decisions on entitlement made as a result of such an interview and those made at another stage, for example following the processing of the benefit application. Nor do the data distinguish between decisions on entitlement made at the start of a claim and those made during the course of a claim.

Lone Parents

Archy Kirkwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of lone parents are in work in (a) the Scottish Borders, (b) Scotland and (c) the UK.

Nick Brown: The available information is in the table:
	
		Employment rate for lone parents
		
			 Area Percentage 
		
		
			 Scottish Borders (44) Not available 
			 Scotland 56.0 
			 United Kingdom 53.3 
		
	
	(44) The sample size is too small to make a realistic estimate of the employment rate of lone parents in the Scottish Borders.
	Notes:
	1. Figures are based on a 5 per cent. sample of the population and estimates are subject to sampling error and to variability in non-response.
	2. Families with unknown economic status are excluded.
	Source:
	Labour Force Survey—spring 2002

Maxwell Communications Pension Plan

Mark Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the outcome of his Department's discussions with representatives of the Maxwell Communications Pension Plan.

Ian McCartney: The Government are aware of the difficulties surrounding the Maxwell Communications Pension Plan and sympathise with those affected.
	We have had discussions with the Independent Trustee of the Plan, The Law Debenture Trust Corporation plc. The difficulties faced by the Plan are not connected to Maxwell's original fraud but reflect the subsequent performance of the pension fund in relation to the scheme's liabilities. As we have made clear to Law Debenture, this is an issue for the trustees, not the Government.

Medical Assessments

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what procedures are in place to assess the performance of doctors employed by Schlumberger Sema to carry out medical assessment of benefit applicants on behalf of Jobcentre Plus.

Nick Brown: Doctors must demonstrate they have achieved a satisfactory standard before being approved by the Chief Medical Adviser to carry out assessments on behalf of the Department. Ongoing approval is dependent upon the doctor maintaining a satisfactory standard. We therefore have stringent procedures in place to assess their performance.
	A doctor's work can be audited if their work is reported to be deficient or if they are subject to significant levels of complaint and, in addition, cases are randomly selected for audit on an ongoing monthly basis.
	All complaints made regarding the manner or conduct of a doctor are investigated to ensure that examining doctors have followed the professional standards laid down by Medical Services, and consideration is given to any complaints made and their nature when reviewing the performance of individual doctors.
	The Department and Medical Services also undertake a number of validation exercises to ensure that these systems are sufficiently robust and that the performance of doctors acting on behalf of the Department is effectively assessed.

New Deal

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many New Deal participants have found (a) employment and (b) sustained employment in the Civil Service in each year of the New Deal to date; which Government departments and agencies have employed New Deal participants; what the (i) number of employees and (ii) duration of employment were in each case; and what customised gateways have been established for Government Departments and agencies;
	(2)  how many New Deal participants found work in his Department (a) in the year to April 2000, (b) in the year to April 2001, (c) in the year to April 2002 and (d) in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Nick Brown: holding answers 9 December 2002 and 12 December 2002
	The available information is in the table.
	
		
			   New Deal for Young People and New Deal 25 plus starts in Government Departments (including agencies) by financial year  
			  1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2000–02 2002–03(45) 
		
		
			 Cabinet Office 9 4 13 6 0 
			 Office of the Deputy Prime Minister — — — — 2 
			 Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions 6 5 57 60 17 
			 Privy Council Office 0 0 1 0 0 
			 Charity Commission 5 13 13 11 1 
			 Department for Culture, Media and Sport 1 1 2 0 0 
			 Ministry of Defence 7 88 43 16 24 
			 Department for Education and Skills 12 77 51 8 0 
			 Office for Standards in Education 1 0 0 0 0 
			 Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 5 33 35 35 3 
			 Intervention Board 2 1 1 0 — 
			 Export Credits Guarantee Department 4 0 0 0 0 
			 Foreign and Commonwealth Office 3 1 5 2 0 
			 Government Communications Headquarters 0 0 2 0 0 
			 Department of Health 8 19 30 18 2 
			 Home Office 1 72 26 38 5 
			 Department for International Development 0 1 6 0 0 
			 Law Officers' Departments 0 10 11 2 0 
			 Lord Chancellor's Department 0 21 34 33 3 
			 National Assembly for Wales 5 28 3 5 0 
			 Northern Ireland Office 0 11 3 0 0 
			 Scottish Executive (includes Scottish Office) 12 19 33 40 6 
			 Registers of Scotland 1 0 0 0 0 
			 Department of Trade and Industry 22 21 26 12 1 
			 Health and Safety Executive 0 6 12 17 5 
			 Office of the Rail Regulator 0 0 0 1 0 
			 Office of Water Services (OFWAT) 0 0 1 0 0 
			 Ordnance Survey 0 1 0 0 0 
			 Shadow Strategic Rail Authority (NDPB wef 1.2.01) 0 0 1 0 — 
			 HM Treasury 2 0 2 3 4 
			 Office of Government Commerce 1 0 0 0 0 
			 HM Customs and Excise 1 34 77 32 1 
			 Inland Revenue (includes NICO and Valuation Office Agency) 4 252 145 169 3 
			 Office for National Statistics 0 10 1 0 0 
			 Royal Mint 3 0 0 0 0 
			 Department for Work and Pensions 356 1,758 1,177 929 120 
			 Total 471 2,486 1,811 1,437 197 
		
	
	(45) 2002–03 figures are to 1 July 2002.
	Notes:
	Figures for the other New Deals are not available. Information on the duration of employment is not collected centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	Customised New Deal gateways were piloted in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the Department for Trade and Industry and the former Benefits Agency.
	Source:
	Cabinet Office

New Deal

David Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the effect of the New Deal for Lone Parents.

Nick Brown: The New Deal is delivering services tailored to meet the needs of individual lone parents and giving them the skills, support and confidence they need to move into work. By the end of September 2002, the New Deal for Lone Parents (NDLP) had helped over 160,000 lone parents to find jobs. There has been on-going evaluation of the programme and a number of evaluation reports have been published and placed in the Library. A report of further evaluation concerning the quantitative impact of NDLP is due to be published in spring 2003.
	NDLP is just one of many measures that we have introduced to help lone parents gain independence through moving into work. Together they have helped reduce the number of lone parents dependant on income support by over 15 per cent. since May 1997.

New Deal

David Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment his Department has made of the effect the new deal has had on youth unemployment.

Nick Brown: Since 1997, youth unemployment has fallen by more than a third and long-term youth unemployment has been reduced by nearly three-quarters. The new deal for young people has played an important part in this success, helping almost 400,000 young people off benefit and into jobs, and improving the work prospects of many more.
	Independent research by the National Institute for Economic and Social Research found that the number of young people unemployed for six months or more would be twice as high without the new deal. It also found that the new deal had increased youth employment and had had a positive knock-on effect on employment among other age groups.

New Deal

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  pursuant to his answer of 11 December, Official Report, column 377W, on the New Deal, what adjustment has been made to the Government's expenditure plans as a result of the difference between spending on the Environmental Task Force and the amount budgeted by the former Department for Education and Employment for the period 1998 to 2002;
	(2)  pursuant to his answer of 11 December, Official Report, column 377W, on the New Deal, why details of expenditure on the Environment Task Force in 2001–02 are not yet available; when the figure will be made available; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  pursuant to his answer of 11 December, Official Report, column 377W, if he will make a statement on the reasons for the difference in the number of young people participating in the Environment Task Force option and the target figure given by the former Department for Education and Employment in DfEE Press Release 009 of 1998.

Nick Brown: Due to the strength of the economy and the success of the New Deal for Young People long-term youth unemployment has been virtually eradicated. The number of young people accessing New Deal opportunities has therefore been lower than was anticipated in 1998. This has also resulted in underspends against original planning assumptions for the programme. These underspends have been used to support other welfare to work initiatives. Environment Task Force opportunities and those on the other options continue to be available for New Deal clients who need this type of help to move into work.
	The Department's accounts for 2001–02 are currently being finalised and are expected to be published early in 2003. The Environment Task Force expenditure figure will be available then.

New Deal

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to his answer of 11 December 2002, Official Report, column 377W, on the new deal, 
	(1)  how many of the 6,800 young people who secured subsidised employment starts in the construction industry subsequently secured (a) unsubsidised employment and (b) unsubsidised sustained employment; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  if he will make a statement on the reasons for the difference in the number of subsidised employment starts in the construction industry under the new deal and that predicted by the former Department for Education and Employment in DFEE Press Release 70 of 1998.

Nick Brown: Due to the strength of the economy and the success of the new deal for young people long-term youth unemployment has been virtually eradicated. The number of young people accessing subsidised employment opportunities in the construction industry has therefore been lower than was anticipated in 1998. However, opportunities continue to be available for new deal clients who need help through subsidised employment to move into work.
	We estimate that 6,800 people have started subsidised employment in the construction industry since 1998. Of these, around 3,000 subsequently moved into an unsubsidised job, some 2,800 of which were sustained. Information on the type of industry within which a subsidised job takes place is incomplete. It is likely, therefore, that these are underestimates of the number of people taking up work in the construction industry through the subsidised employment option of the new deal.

New Deal

Howard Flight: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people on New Deal 25 Plus schemes (a) left after the initial advisory stage, (b) progressed to follow-through and (c) returned to claim jobseeker's allowance, in each year since 1997.

Nick Brown: The information is in the tables. In April 2001, New Deal 25 plus was extended and enhanced, to provide a flexible, more individually-tailored service to help more long-term unemployed people find jobs and remain in them.
	
		
			  1998(46) 1999 2000 2001 2002(47) 
		
		
			 Number of people leaving during the advisory process ( including the Gateway) 13,320 110,870 112,870 64,830 2,940 
			 Number of people who progressed to follow-through 700 8,130 10, 000 5,820 1,070 
			 Number of people who left to return to jobseeker's allowance(48) 2,680 68,210 76,450 47,380 3,110 
		
	
	(46) New Deal 25 plus was introduced nationally in June 1998.
	(47) To September.
	(48) Among leavers from all stages of the New Deal.
	Source:
	New Deal Evaluation Database
	
		Re-engineered New Deal 25 plus
		
			  2001(49) 2002(50) 
		
		
			 Number of people leaving during the advisory process (including the Gateway) 33,400 54,700 
			 Number of people who progressed to follow- through 2,850 20,240 
			 Number of leavers returning to jobseeker's allowance(51) 6,000 23,900 
		
	
	(49) From April.
	(50) From September
	(51) Among leavers from all stages of the New Deal.
	Source:
	New Deal Evaluation Database

New Deal

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he expects to publish the evaluation of the New Deal for Lone Parents; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Brown: holding answer 9 December 2002
	The evaluation of the prototype of the New Deal for Lone Parents was published on 3 March 2000. Follow up reports and research on the national phase of the programme have been published since then, and new items of research are published as they are completed. We expect to publish a report, bringing together findings from all strands of the evaluation, in spring 2003.

New Deal

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many and what proportion of participants in the New Deal for Young People from Ethnic Minorities found (a) jobs and (b) sustained jobs in each year since 1997, broken down by ethnic group.

Nick Brown: holding answer 9 December 2002
	The information is in the tables.
	
		1998
		
			  All jobs Sustained  
			  Number Per cent. of starts Number Per cent. of starts 
		
		
			 Black—Caribbean 2,780 46 1,890 32 
			 Black—African 1,410 39 950 26 
			 Black—Other 1,240 46 840 31 
			 Indian 1,920 52 1,530 41 
			 Pakistani 2,980 45 2,280 35 
			 Bangladeshi 1,030 47 810 37 
			 Chinese 180 44 150 36 
			 Mixed/Other 2,170 46 1,620 34 
			 Total 13,720 46 10,060 34 
		
	
	
		1999
		
			  All jobs Sustained  
			  Number Per cent. of starts Number Per cent. of starts 
		
		
			 Black—Caribbean 2,420 48 1,730 35 
			 Black—African 1,090 40 760 28 
			 Black—Other 1,030 48 730 34 
			 Indian 1,800 52 1,440 42 
			 Pakistani 2,880 46 2,220 36 
			 Bangladeshi 940 49 790 41 
			 Chinese 180 47 150 39 
			 Mixed/Other 2,110 45 1,600 34 
			 Total 12,440 47 9,420 36 
		
	
	
		2000
		
			  All jobs Sustained  
			  Number Per cent. of starts Number Per cent. of starts 
		
		
			 Black—Caribbean 2,510 52 1,770 37 
			 Black—African 1,270 44 900 31 
			 Black—Other 1,140 52 820 38 
			 Indian 1,680 55 1,370 45 
			 Pakistani 2,990 49 2,380 39 
			 Bangladeshi 980 49 800 40 
			 Chinese 160 46 130 37 
			 Mixed/Other 2,300 47 1,770 36 
			 Total 13,020 50 9,940 38 
		
	
	
		2001
		
			  All jobs Sustained  
			  Number Per cent. of starts Number Per cent. of starts 
		
		
			 Black—Caribbean 2,180 48 1,540 34 
			 Black—African 1,330 41 930 28 
			 Black—Other 960 45 710 33 
			 Indian 1,520 54 1,250 44 
			 Pakistani 2,660 46 2,070 35 
			 Bangladeshi 870 45 700 37 
			 Chinese 140 46 110 35 
			 Mixed/Other 2,480 43 1,880 33 
			 Total 12,150 46 9,200 35 
		
	
	
		2002 (to September 2002)
		
			  All jobs Sustained  
			  Number Per cent. of starts Number Per cent. of starts 
		
		
			 Black—Caribbean 1,430 37 1,000 26 
			 Black—African 860 25 650 19 
			 Black—Other 540 34 400 25 
			 Indian 950 42 760 34 
			 Pakistani 1,590 34 1,220 26 
			 Bangladeshi 520 32 420 26 
			 Chinese 90 33 90 30 
			 Mixed/Other 1,870 28 1,480 22 
			 Total 7,850 32 6,010 25

Official Travel

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what the total expenditure of (a) his Department and (b) its agencies was on official travelling in 2001–02;
	(2)  what the total budget of (a) his Department and (b) its agencies is for official travel in 2002–03.

Nick Brown: holding answer 3 December 2002
	Since 1999 the Government have published an annual list of all visits overseas undertaken by Cabinet Ministers costing #500 or more during each financial year. The Government have also published on an annual basis the cost of all Ministers' visits overseas. Details of travel undertaken during the period 1 April 2001 to 31 March 2002 were published on 24 July 2002, Official Report, column 75W. The cost of Ministers' visits overseas for 2002–03 will be published as soon as possible after the end of the current financial year. Copies of the lists are available in the Library.
	All travel is undertaken fully in accordance with the rules set out in the Ministerial Code and Travel by Ministers, copies of which are available in the Library.
	In respect of travel by officials of the Department, the figures for expenditure in 2001–02 and budget for 2002–03 are set out in the following table.
	
		
			  # million  
		
		
			 Expenditure 2001–02 
			 Total Department 61.4 
			 Benefits Agency 19.0 
			 Child Support Agency 3.8 
			 The Appeals Service 0.6 
			 Employment Service 23.6 
			 Corporate Centre 14.4 
			 Budget 2002–03  
			 Total Department 69.0 
			 Jobcentre Plus 42.4 
			 Child Support Agency 3.5 
			 The Appeals Service 0.6 
			 The Pension Service 4.0 
			 Corporate Centre 18.5 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Following the significant restructuring of DWP the Benefits Agency discontinued its operations. Its functions dispersed between the newly formed agencies Jobcentre Plus and Pension Service, and the corporate centre. It is not possible therefore to make direct, like for like comparisons between expenditure and budget figures.
	2. The Child Benefit Centre and Disability and Carer Services formerly within BA are, with effect from 1 April 2002, accounted within the DWP Corporate Centre. Pensions and Overseas Directorate and all work in ex-DSS relating to pensions is now carried out by The Pension Service. The remainder of BA and the Employment Service integrated to form Jobcentre Plus.
	3. The Health and Safety Executive and Health and Safety Laboratory has recently moved into DWP under a machinery of Government change. The budget figures for HSE/HSL are not included.

Parliamentary Questions

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many parliamentary questions have been tabled to his Department for written answer on a named day since 1 October 2002; and what percentage received a substantive reply on the requested date.

Maria Eagle: holding answer 12 December 2002
	From 1 October, out of 675 questions tabled to my right hon. Friend for written answer, 246 questions were for answer on a named day up to and including 12 December. Of these, 154—63 per cent.—received a substantive reply on the named day. During the same period, the hon. Member tabled 74 questions to the Department, all of them for answer on a named day. Up to 12 December substantive replies had been issued in respect of 45 of them in an average time of 4.75 working days.
	We are committed to providing hon. Members with timely and accurate answers to parliamentary questions, although where questions prompt further analysis it is not always possible to provide information to the named day deadlines.

Unemployment (Copeland)

Jack Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people were unemployed in Copeland in (a) May 1997 and (b) at the latest date for which figures are available; what proposals he has to reduce that number; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Brown: holding answer 16 December 2002
	Economic stability and active labour market programmes have helped people move from welfare to work in all parts of the country. As a result of our policies the number of people in work is at record levels and unemployment has fallen to levels not seen since the 1970s.
	In my right hon. Friend's constituency, between May 1997 and October 2002 the number of people unemployed and claiming benefit fell from 2,784 to 1,382 (a reduction of 50 per cent.) and long term unemployment has fallen by 75 per cent. Over the same period the New Deal has helped over 1,800 people in Copeland into jobs.
	We know that even within areas of prosperity there are pockets of persistent unemployment. That is why we have introduced additional measures—such as Action Teams for Jobs and Employment Zones—targeted on the most employment-deprived wards in the country.

Public Service Agreements

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what (a) discussions his Department has held with the Treasury and (b) sanctions have been imposed on his Department in respect of his Department's performance in meeting targets set for its predecessor departments in public service agreements dating from (i) 1998 and (ii) 2000; and if he will make a statement.

Ian McCartney: holding answer 19 December 2002
	The Department has regular and ongoing discussions with the Treasury on its public service agreement targets and continues to make good progress towards meeting them, as reported in its Departmental Report for 2002 (Cm 5424), and in its Autumn Performance Report (Cm 5660). Therefore no sanctions have been imposed in respect of performance against any of my Department's or its predecessor's departmental targets.

State Pension

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people have opted to defer receiving their state pension, and how many pensioners in total have received increments in each year since 1992.

Ian McCartney: The information is not available in the format requested.
	We estimate that around 3 per cent. of people who reached state pension age five years ago deferred claiming their basic state pension. On average, these individuals deferred their basic state pension for almost two years.
	The table shows the number of pensioners receiving increments in each year.
	
		
			  Thousands 
		
		
			 March 2002 1,163.1 
			  
			 March 2001 1,193.6 
			  
			 March 2000 1,221.2 
			  
		
	
	Notes
	1. Figures are taken from a 5 per cent. sample.
	2. Figures are in thousands and rounded to the nearest hundred.
	3. Figures include own and inherited increments and all components.
	4. Comparative figures are not available prior to September 1999.
	Source
	Pension Strategy and Computer System at 31 March of each year.
	Notes
	1. Estimates are based on the latest March 2002 RP admin data and the Government Actuary's Department mid-year population estimates.
	2. Figures are for Great Britain.

Tax Credits

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if the figures for tax credit expenditure in the benefits expenditure table at http://www.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd4/Table1 are gross and include all tax credit expenditure.

Malcolm Wicks: The figures for tax credits include all personal tax credits (Working Families Tax Credit, Disabled Person's Tax Credit, Children's Tax Credit, Working Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit) classified by the Office for National Statistics as public expenditure in the National Accounts. Further details on the classification of personal tax credits can be found in Box C2 of the 2002 Financial Statement and Budget Report (HC592).

Unemployment

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on progress on the target to halve unemployment among 18 to 24 year olds by 2010 throughout the European Union, set at the European Council's meeting in Lisbon.

Malcolm Wicks: There is no target for EU unemployment among 18 to 24 year olds. The Presidency Conclusions from the European Council held in Lisbon in March 2000 set a target that the number of 18 to 24 year olds with only lower secondary level education who are not in further education and training should be halved by 2010.
	Three employment rate targets were agreed at Lisbon and Stockholm on total employment (70 per cent.), female employment (60 per cent.) and older worker employment (50 per cent.). The UK is one of the best performing member states in the EU, with one of the highest employment rates in the EU 15 (71.7 per cent. in the UK in 2001 compared with an EU average of 63.9 per cent.). The UK is one of only three member states to currently exceed all three of the 2010 employment targets.
	The UK performs well in terms of young people as well, with the second highest youth employment rate at 56.9 per cent. in 2001, well above the EU 15 average of 40.7 per cent. This reflects the effectiveness of policies such as New Deal in helping young people in the UK to move from welfare to work. Current Eurostat figures show that between October 2000 and October 2001, unemployment in the EU for 15 to 24 year olds fell from 14.9 per cent. to a low of 14.7 per cent., before rising again to 15.1 per cent. in October 2002.

Winter Fuel Payment

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many men aged 60 to 64 received a winter fuel payment in each of the last two winters; and how many men in this age group have applied for a payment for this year.

Ian McCartney: Around 1.1 million men aged 60 to 64 received winter fuel payments in each of the last two winters (2000–01 and 2001–02). This winter, men aged 60 to 64 will have received a winter fuel payment automatically if they were receiving a social security benefit (excluding child benefit, housing benefit and council tax benefit) in the qualifying week, or they had received a winter fuel payment last year and their circumstances had not changed. People who are not entitled to an automatic payment need to make a claim. We are currently unable to identify the number of men in this age group who have claimed so far this year, but we may be able to do so by May 2003 once the final administrative data is available.

Work Opportunities (Older People)

Linda Perham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what progress he has made in supporting work opportunities for older women.

Nick Brown: holding answer 5 December 2002
	New Deal 50 plus offers personal advice, jobsearch help, and back to work financial support through an Employment Credit for clients on taking up either full-time or part- time work. We are ensuring that New Deal 50 plus offers effective back to work help for women over 50 by making partners, as well as the main benefit recipient, eligible for help through the programme. By October 2002, New Deal 50 plus had helped 26,780 women back into work—a third of all clients moving into work through the programme.
	We are encouraging employers to realise the benefits of employing older workers through our Age Positive campaign. The campaign raises employer awareness through events, awards, initiatives, guidance and publications such as 'Good Practice in Recruiting and Retaining Older Workers' (DWP December 2001). We are also encouraging employers to adopt more flexible approaches to retirement to give individuals more choice and opportunity to stay in work longer. This can be important for those women who want to stay in work longer and also move from full-time to part-time work. The Green Paper on pensions, which we published on 17 December, includes proposals to support the development of flexible retirement. We will also reinforce our commitment to tackle age discrimination in employment by implementing age legislation covering employment and vocational training by 2006.
	Earlier this month we had Age Positive Week which included a range of events to further raise awareness of the benefits of employing older men and women as part of an age diverse workforce. On 3 December we also launched an updated Code of Practice on Age Diversity in Employment, which includes a range of new good practice case studies for employers.
	Our policies have contributed to a rise of 4.6 percentage points in the employment rate of women aged 50 to state pension age since 1997, to 65.6 per cent. This increase is greater than the increase in the overall employment rate of women, which stood at 69.7 per cent in spring 2002.

HEALTH

Abattoirs

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which abattoirs in the South West have a licence to remove and test the spinal columns of animals slaughtered under the Beef Assurance Scheme.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 9 December 2002
	All licensed abattoirs are permitted to slaughter Beef Assurance Scheme over 30 month cattle, provided they are willing to facilitate their testing for BSE. On receipt of a negative test result, the carcase must be sent to a licensed cutting plant that is separately licensed to remove the vertebral column and dorsal root ganglia before the meat is released for human consumption. All licensed cutting plants are free to apply to the Food Standards Agency for an additional licence to remove vertebral column. It is a simple process, no fee is charged, and all have been encouraged to apply. None has done so in the south-west peninsular.

Accident and Emergency Units

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what instructions his Department issued to acute trusts on planning bed allocations to reduce the length of waiting times in accident and emergency units.

David Lammy: Creating more capacity in hospitals is key to reducing long waits to be admitted to a bed from accident and emergency. Over the last two years, the number of beds have increased, reversing a 40 year decline.
	The Department has not issued any specific instructions to acute trusts regarding bed allocations to reduce the length of waiting times in accident and emergency departments.
	As part of routine capacity planning each national health service trust needs to establish the levels of occupancy required for different specialties and types of care, depending on their own particular circumstances. Appropriate levels of occupancy will depend on a number of factors including specialty, the balance between emergency and planned admissions and the size of the hospital.

Acute Hospitals (Nurse Training)

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of NHS nurses are trained to deliver minor injury and assessment services in acute hospitals.

John Hutton: Information on the number of nurses trained to deliver minor injury and assessment services is not collected centrally.

Acute Trusts (Nurses)

John Lyons: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the level is of nurse understaffing in England's acute trusts.

John Hutton: Levels of staffing are a matter for individual trusts. The three month vacancy rate is an indicator of the number of posts in their establishment which trusts are finding difficult to fill.
	Information on the level of three month vacancies in acute trusts in England will be placed in the Library.
	Between March 2001 and 2002 the three month vacancy rate for qualified nurses fell from 3.4 per cent., to 3.1 per cent. This is the second successive fall for nurse vacancies and shows that our recruitment and retention policies are bearing fruit.

Adult Placement Schemes

David Cameron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent representations he has received about the regulation of adult placement schemes; and if he will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: We have recently received representations from the national association of adult placement services and others about the regulation of adult placement schemes. We have carried out a thorough review of these issues and intend to propose changes to the way in which both adult placement carers and the schemes that manage them are regulated. We will be consulting on this shortly.

Agency Nurses

Evan Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the figures for spending on agency nurses by the NHS in 2001–02 will be available.

John Hutton: Fully validated information for spending on agency nurses by the national health service in 2001–02 will be available in February 2003. Information for 2000–01 is available and I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 7 November 2002, Official Report, column 538W.

Alcohol Reduction Strategy

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many responses he has received to the national alcohol reduction strategy consultation paper.

Hazel Blears: 37 formal responses to the national alcohol harm reduction strategy had been received by the end of Tuesday 17 December 2002. The consultation began on 15 October 2002 and will run until 15 January 2003.
	The Department of Health and the Cabinet Office strategy unit (COSU) have also held four regional consultation events in London, Newcastle, Manchester and Bristol to allow key stakeholders to discuss the issues and to put their views forward. Additionally, the COSU holds informal, on-going meetings with key stakeholders to ensure that their views can be fed into the work on the strategy at all stages of its development.

Antipsychotic Drugs

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the age-standardised prescription ratio was of (a) atypical and (b) typical antipsychotic drugs in each primary care trust area in each month during the period from 1 April to 31 October; and what the national averages were.

David Lammy: holding answer 9 December 2002
	The information requested is not collected centrally. However, information on the estimated number of prescription items dispensed in the community in England for antipsychotics by broad age group for the 28 strategic health authorities for April to September 2002 has been placed in the Library.

Assisted Dying

Joan Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department has made of the frequency of assisted dying in the UK in the last 10 years.

David Lammy: We have no information about the frequency of assisted dying because it is an illegal act, if this means a deliberate intervention to end life. It is not for the Department to undertake any investigation into this matter, as this is a matter for the Criminal Justice Service.

Bed Availability (Worcestershire)

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many beds were available within the Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust on (a) 2 December, (b) 11 December and (c) the most recent date for which he has information; and if he will make a statement.

David Lammy: The daily situation reports by trusts do not list the total number of beds available within each hospital. The following answer therefore gives the number of beds that were not available on the days in question.
	On 2 December, one ward at the Worcester Royal Hospital, with five unoccupied beds, was closed to admissions because of an outbreak of diarrhoea and vomiting (D&V), but it reopened during the day.
	On 11 December, two wards were closed at the Alexandra Hospital, with five unoccupied beds, due to an outbreak of D&V.
	On 17 December, the latest available date, six beds were closed due to staffing shortages at Worcester.
	The bed closures should be seen in the overall context of some 900 beds (for all purposes) in the Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust. The West Midlands South Strategic Health Authority is working closely with and monitoring the performance of the trust under the normal processes of winter planning and situation reporting.

Blood Donations

Dai Havard: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many years in retrospect the Government will ban recipients of blood from donating blood in the future; and when he will publish his findings on this issue.

Hazel Blears: The Government's advisory committee on the microbiological safety of blood and tissues for transplantation asked the Department's economics and operational research division to assess the impact of excluding transfusion recipients from donating blood on possible secondary infections of variant CJD, assuming blood to be infective. This risk assessment is still in progress and consequently no decision has been taken into the possible exclusion of transfusion recipients giving blood.

Body Part Imports

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will extend the licensing regime for the importation of human body tissue to corpses and other body parts; and if he will make a statement.

David Lammy: holding answer 17 December 2002
	There are currently no formal controls on the import of human tissue to the United Kingdom for teaching, education, research or other non-therapeutic purposes. The Government are considering this matter as part of their current review of the law on human tissue and organs. As an interim measure, we published a draft code of practice on the import and export of human body parts, in July. Consultation on this ended in October and we shall publish a slightly revised code shortly.

Cancer Screening

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to extend screening programmes to forms of common cancers other than breast and cervical.

Hazel Blears: The NHS Cancer Plan stated that the government would extend and roll out new screening programmes, where it is clear that screening reduces mortality.
	The National Health Service breast screening programmes is being expanded to invite all women aged 65 to 70 by 2004.
	On 5 November, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health reaffirmed his commitment to introduce a national screening programme for colorectal cancer. The national cancer director will be working with all the relevant experts to determine the best way forward, taking account of experience from the current pilots.
	We are committed to introducing a screening programme for prostate cancer if an when screening and treatment techniques are sufficiently well developed. There is no evidence from any country that screening for prostate cancer saves lives, but his is kept constantly under review by the national screening committee.

Care Costs

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average cost per week is of (a) keeping a person in hospital and (b) keeping a person in a nursing home.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 3 December 2002
	The average cost per week in 2000–01 of keeping a person in hospital is calculated as #1,000 and of keeping that person in a nursing home is calculated as #384.

Care Homes (Insurance Cover)

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will provide assistance to care homes whose (a) premiums for public and employer's liability insurance cover have risen significantly and (b) cover has been withdrawn; and if he will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: Care home places are commissioned by local councils. The Department is aware that some providers have had difficulty in negotiating public and private employers liability insurance premiums, and has contributed evidence to a cross-Whitehall group which is looking into this issue. This has led to a review of the current employers' liabilities compulsory insurance announced in the Pre-Budget report.

Children in Care

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health who is reviewing public service agreements relating to the educational achievements of children in care.

Jacqui Smith: The social exclusion unit is currently reviewing the Government's public service agreement targets in consultation with the Department of Health, the Department for Education and Skills and other Departments with an interest. This review of current targets is part of the social exclusion unit's wider study into raising the educational attainment of young people in public care.

Children in Temporary Accommodation

Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what regular health checks are carried out on children living in temporary accommodation.

Jacqui Smith: Local primary care trusts are responsible for the timing, frequency and content of health checks in childhood. These will vary according to the needs of the individual child. There is, however, a recommended core programme contained in the publication XHealth for all Children", which includes the number and content of health checks for children. This programme has been developed to maximise the capability of every child to have the opportunity to realise their full potential in terms of good health, well being and development and to assist primary health care teams to determine their approach. The core programme is currently under review.

Chiropody

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people received NHS chiropody services in each year from 1997 to 2002.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 17 December 2002
	The number of people who received chiropody services was as follows:
	
		
			 Year First contacts (thousands) 
		
		
			 1996–97 2,420 
			 1997–98 2,383 
			 1998–99 2,381 
			 1999–2000 2,321 
			 2000–01 2,247 
			 2001–02 2,278 
		
	
	Source:
	Department of Health annual return KT23.

Chiropody

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the National Institute for Clinical Excellence has issued guidance on chiropody services; and what plans the NICE has to issue guidance on NHS chiropody services in the future.

David Lammy: holding answer 17 December 2002
	The National Institute for Clinical Excellence has not issued guidance specifically on chiropody services and has no plans to issue such guidance in the near future.

Chiropody

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what framework governs standards of provision of chiropody services in the NHS.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 17 December 2002
	Primary care trusts are responsible for planning and securing the provision of the totality of care and services that their population needs. The Health Professions Council is responsible for setting and maintaining standards of professional training, performance and conduct of the 12 health care professions that it regulates, including chiropody. National service frameworks may include standards relevant to the provision of chiropody services.

Community Initiatives

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many community five-a-day initiatives have been established since the five pilot sites reported.

Hazel Blears: The five-a-day local community initiatives aim to increase the consumption of fruit and vegetables by improving access and availability. Following the five pilot initiatives, there will be 66 new five-a-day local community initiatives, based in the most deprived areas of England, supported by the new opportunities fund. Grants for the first four initiatives have been awarded and grants for the other initiatives are currently under consideration. The majority of these programmes should be starting up from spring 2003.
	In addition, initiatives to increase fruit and vegetable consumption may be funded through health action zones, sure start, healthy living centres and through general funding allocations to primary care trusts.

Continuing NHS Care

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what steps he is taking to ensure that health authorities comply with guidance issued in booklet 252535 that a written care plan is to be given to patients or the family before they move out of an NHS hospital to a nursing home;
	(2)  what steps he is taking to ensure, that strategic health authorities should determine whether there were patients who were wrongly refused funding for continuing care and make the necessary arrangements for reimbursing the costs they incurred unnecessarily and that health trusts reimburse self-funders and social services for costs incurred unnecessarily by social services clients and self-funding care home residents;
	(3)  if he will revise the paragraph, continuing NHS Health Care, in booklet 25253 to take account of R (Coughlan) v. N & E Devon HA CA July, 1999 and the Health Ombudsman's report E.208/99–00;
	(4)  what steps he is taking to ensure that health authorities and primary care trusts comply with guidance issued in the circular of 25 September HSC 2001/17: LAC (2001)26, page 31;
	(5)  what steps he is taking to ensure that health authorities and primary care trusts follow the Health Ombudsman's recommendations in her report E.208/99–00, that the new authority should review the eligibility criteria for funding continuing care to ensure that they are in line with the Coughlan judgment and other relevant guidance;
	(6)  what steps he is taking to ensure that health authorities and primary care trusts follow the Health Ombudsman's recommendations in her report E.208/99–00 that the strategic health authorities should determine whether there were any patients who were wrongly refused funding for continuing care and make the necessary arrangements for reimbursing the costs they incurred unnecessarily;
	(7)  what steps he is taking to ensure that health authorities and primary care trusts follow the health ombudsman's recommendations in her report E.208/99–00, that assessments of eligibility should include why the patient is considered to meet, or not to meet, all the criteria.

Jacqui Smith: holding answers 17 December 2002
	The Ombudsman's report referred to has not been published. It is therefore not possible to comment on the contents.
	However, health authorities and subsequently strategic health authorities (StHAs) have reviewed their local criteria in line with the judgement in North and East Devon Health Authority ex parte Coughlan. The chief executive wrote to national health service chief executives about NHS continuing care over the summer. In the light of an earlier Ombudsman's case where an individual had been denied funding, he reminded them of the need to ensure that previous eligibility criteria did not deny patients NHS funded care to which they were entitled. In that case, the Ombudsman recommended that the eligibility criteria that had been in operation by the authority since April 1996 should be reviewed and that reimbursement of costs should be made to any patients found to have been refused funding incorrectly. StHAs have been asked to consider whether criteria in their area were at similar fault and whether other patients were also denied NHS funding of their care. The Department will be monitoring this as part of the process of reviewing StHA's criteria.
	The Department does not consider there is any need to amend the wording of Appendix 6 of HSC 2001/17: LAC (2001) 26.
	The leaflet, XNHS Funded Nursing Care—What it Means for You", is a guide to people living in or going into a care home providing nursing care, their families and carers. It is not statutory guidance. Separate guidance on the single assessment process asked the NHS and councils to carry out a joint, comprehensive old age assessment when individuals enter care homes or receive other intensive packages of care as part of continuing care, intermediate care or NHS funded nursing care. Local implementation teams for the national service framework for older people, covering all primary care trusts and councils, are required to oversee implementation of this guidance by April 2004.

Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he intends to reply to the letter to him dated 31 October 2002 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Andrew Evans.

Alan Milburn: A reply was sent to the right hon. Member on 19 December 2002.

Denturism

Richard Ottaway: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the legislative process for the legalisation of denturism will be completed; when he last met the General Dental Council to discuss this; and if he will make a statement.

David Lammy: The Government plan to publish draft legislation reforming the regulation of dentistry in 2003. It is now discussing with interested groups in what form this legislation should provide for clinical dental technicians, or denturists, to undertake the practice of dentistry. I last met the president and registrar of the General Dental Council on 31 July when our discussions included the modernisation of the regulation of dentistry.

Christmas Expenses

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much will be spent on (a) entertaining, (b) Christmas decorations and (c) other festive activities this Christmas season by his Department and Government agencies answerable to his Department; and of this sum, how much will be spent in Ministers' (i) private offices and (ii) official residences.

David Lammy: This information cannot be provided without disproportionate cost. Any expenditure incurred on entertaining, decorations and other festive activities is strictly for official purposes only, and is made in accordance with departmental guidance on financial procedures and propriety, based on the principles set out in XGovernment Accounting".

Electronic Patient Records

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which NHS Trusts in the south west have introduced electronic patient records.

Hazel Blears: There are no trusts in the south west which have fully introduced electronic patient records although most are in the process of implementation.

EU Food Supplements Directive

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what powers the Government has to modify the implementation plans for the EU Food Supplements Directive.

Hazel Blears: The EU Food Supplements Directive came into force on 12 July 2002. The Government is not in a position to modify the timing of implementation, which is set out in Article 15 of the Directive. The Food Standards Agency, on behalf of the Government, is currently consulting on draft implementing Regulations, which are required to be in place by 31 July 2003. Article 4(6) of the Directive enables member states to allow extended transitional arrangements in some circumstances; the draft Regulations would take advantage of this provision. Article 10 enables member states to require notification of products; the draft Regulations would not introduce a notification system.

Food Imports (Banned Substances)

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on food imports which contain substances banned by the EU.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 16 December 2002
	I am advised by the Food Standards Agency that checks are carried out by local authorities and port health authorities on imported food from non-European Union countries to ensure compliance with the EU veterinary checks regime for food products of animal origin and under United Kingdom national legislation for food products of non-animal origin. In particular checks are made to ensure that where substances are specifically banned by EU legislation, appropriate action is taken to prevent them entering the human food chain.

Food Supplements

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the food supplements accepted as safe by the Food Standards Agency that will become illegal under EU law during 2003.

Hazel Blears: There is no requirement under current United Kingdom legislation for food supplements to be assessed for safety before being placed on the market. As for other foods, the onus is on manufacturers to comply with food safety legislation, which is enforced by local authorities.
	Directive 2002/46/EC on Food Supplements, which came into force on 12 July 2002, will, after a transitional period, require prior assessment of vitamin and mineral sources used in these products. Member states are obliged to transpose it into national legislation by 31 July 2003. The Food Standards Agency is currently consulting on draft implementing Regulations.
	Implementation of the Directive will not immediately outlaw any products already on the UK market. The impact of the Directive on the future availability of products currently on the market will depend upon future developments on lists of permitted nutrients and on maximum levels of nutrients in food supplements.

Foster Care

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the success of the foster carer recruitment campaign launched in July 2000; and if he will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: I refer the hon. Member to the response I gave him on 25 November 2002, Official Report, column 136W.

GP Registers (Patient Removal)

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what rules govern the right of doctors to remove patients from their registers.

John Hutton: These are set out at paragraphs 9 and 9A of Schedule 2 to the NHS (General Medical Services) Regulations 1992 and direction 4 of the Directions to Health Authorities Concerning Patient Lists (Personal Medical Services) 1998.

Health Statistics

Patsy Calton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people are affected by (a) obesity, (b) depression, (c) coronary heart disease, (d) stroke and (e) poor nutrition, in each health authority; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: According to the latest survey figures available, 21 per cent. of men and women in England are classified as obese; 3 per cent. of women and 2 per cent. of men reported a depressive episode in a selected one week period; 7.1 per cent. of men and 4.6 per cent. of women are classified as having ischaemic heart disease (angina or heart attack) and 8.5 per cent. of men and 6.2 per cent. of women as having ischaemic heart disease or stroke. The above figures are not available at health authority level. There is no recognised definition of Xpoor nutrition".

Homeless People

Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of homeless people suffered from tuberculosis in each year since 1997.

Hazel Blears: In the year 2001–02, there were 10 admissions for tuberculosis with a home address of no fixed abode. This totals 0.1 per cent. of admissions for all diseases with a home address of no fixed abode.

Homeless People

Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment his Department has carried out on the longevity of homeless people.

Hazel Blears: No recent assessment has been made of the longevity of homeless people, although research by Crisis (1996) found that the life expectancy of someone who sleeps rough is 42 years.

Homeless People

Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of homeless people used accident and emergency units at hospitals in the last 12 months.

Hazel Blears: The homeless people interviewed as part of the recent research carried out by Crisis (December 2002) found that homeless people were over four times more likely than the general public to turn to accident and emergency when they could not access a general practitioner, 43 per cent., compared to 10 per cent.

Homeless People

Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of homeless people suffered from (a) chest infections (b) leg sores and (c) asthma in the last 12 months.

Hazel Blears: In the year 2001–02, there were 46 admissions for asthma and 75 admissions for chest infections with a home address of no fixed abode. Data are not available for leg sores. This totals 0.6 per cent. and 1 per cent. of admissions for all diseases with a home address of no fixed abode for asthma and chest infections respectively.

Homeless People

Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients in NHS hospitals are homeless, broken down by health authority.

Hazel Blears: In the year 2001–02 there were 7,620 admissions with a home address of 'No Fixed Abode'. A breakdown by health authority is shown in the table.
	
		Admissions (2001–02) for those with a home address 'No Fixed Abode' broken down by health authority
		
			 Name Count of admissions 
		
		
			 Hillingdon HA 22 
			 Kensington, Chelsea and Westminster 133 
			 Redbridge and Waltham Forest HA 106 
			 Bedfordshire HA 55 
			 Berkshire HA 78 
			 Buckinghamshire HA 50 
			 Croydon HA 16 
			 East Kent HA 38 
			 West Kent HA 55 
			 Kingston and Richmond HA 16 
			 Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham 962 
			 Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth HA 60 
			 East Surrey HA 5 
			 West Surrey HA 104 
			 East Sussex, Brighton and Hove HA 61 
			 West Sussex HA 32 
			 Barking and Havering HA 20 
			 Brent and Harrow HA 30 
			 Camden and Islington HA 753 
			 Ealing, Hammersmith and Hounslow 402 
			 East London and The City HA 152 
			 North Essex HA 92 
			 South Essex HA 61 
			 South Lancashire HA 9 
			 Liverpool HA 163 
			 Manchester HA 92 
			 Morecambe Bay HA 43 
			 St, Helens and Knowsley HA 51 
			 Salford and Trafford HA 7 
			 Sefton HA 57 
			 Stockport HA 17 
			 West Pennine HA 14 
			 Northamptonshire HA 74 
			 Oxfordshire HA 77 
			 Suffolk HA 84 
			 Barnsley HA 50 
			 North Derbyshire HA 13 
			 South Derbyshire HA 63 
			 Doncaster HA 66 
			 Leicestershire HA 93 
			 Lincolnshire HA 161 
			 North Nottinghamshire HA 71 
			 Nottingham HA 135 
			 Rotherham HA 51 
			 Sheffield HA 88 
			 Bury and Rochdale HA 17 
			 South Cheshire HA 35 
			 East Lancashire HA 73 
			 North West Lancashire HA 248 
			 North and Mid Hampshire HA 32 
			 Southampton and South West Hampshire HA 237 
			 Somerset HA 36 
			 South and West Devon HA 83 
			 Wiltshire HA 20 
			 Avon HA 212 
			 Birmingham HA 126 
			 Wigan and Bolton HA 40 
			 Wirral HA 49 
			 Bradford HA 58 
			 County Durham HA 16 
			 East Riding HA 83 
			 Gateshead and South Tyneside HA 43 
			 Leeds HA 170 
			 Newcastle and North Tyneside HA 8 
			 North Cumbria HA 29 
			 South Humber HA 26 
			 Northumberland HA 65 
			 Tees HA 37 
			 Wakefield HA 36 
			 North Yorkshire HA 70 
			 Calderdale and Kirklees HA 94 
			 Cornwall and Isles of Scilly HA 1 
			 Dorset HA 51 
			 North and East Devon HA 40 
			 Gloucestershire HA 51 
			 Coventry HA 53 
			 Dudley HA 10 
			 Herefordshire HA 20 
			 Sandwell HA 4 
			 Shropshire HA 10 
			 South Staffordshire HA 38 
			 Walsall HA 19 
			 Warwickshire HA 10 
			 Worcestershire HA 5 
			 Cambridge HA 213 
			 Norfolk HA 107 
			 Isle of White, Portsmouth and Southampton HA 126 
			 Barnet, Enfield and Haringey HA 59 
			 Hertfordshire HA 54 
			 Bexley, Bromley and Greenwich HA 24 
			 Total 7,620

Homeless People

Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what steps his Department is taking to ensure that homeless people are able to register with a general practitioner;
	(2)  if it is his Department's policy to encourage homeless people to register permanently with a general practitioner.

John Hutton: National Health Service medical primary care services are available free to all persons who are ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom, including those who are homeless. To that end patients do not need a permanent address to register with a general practitioner.
	Primary care trusts can also provide targeted primary care services for homeless people through a tailored personal medical services contract, or general medical services local development scheme or through provision of a walk-in service.

Homeless People

Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of homeless people suffered from diabetes in the last 12 months.

Hazel Blears: In the year 2001–02, there were 46 admissions for diabetes with a home address of no fixed abode. This totals 0.6 per cent. of admissions for all diseases with a home address of no fixed abode.

Homeless People

Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients whose address was listed as no fixed abode were admitted to NHS hospitals between (a) December 1998 and January 1999, (b) December 1997 and January 1998, and (c) December 1996 and January 1997.

Hazel Blears: Information on the number of patients admitted to national health service hospitals between December 1996 and January 1999 with an address listed as no fixed abode is shown in the table.
	
		
			 Year Number of patients 
		
		
			 December 1996-January 1997 557 
			 December 1997-January 1998 758 
			 December 1998-January 1999 895

Homeless People

Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the dates since 1997 when he and his officials have met representatives of homeless charities and voluntary organisations to discuss the health needs of homeless people.

Hazel Blears: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and officials have had numerous meetings with charitable and voluntary organisations since his appointment in October 1999. These meetings have discussed a range of topics including health issues which affect homeless people.

Homeless People

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to encourage a greater take-up of GP services by homeless people.

John Hutton: National health service medical primary care services are available free to everyone who is ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom, including anyone who is homeless. We have in place a range of initiatives to improve access to general practitioner services for homeless people. These include the development of a model general medical service local development scheme for primary care trusts to use to develop such and the promotion of locally agreed personal medical services (PMS) contracts with a similar focus. There are now more than 80 PMS pilot schemes, which include the homeless as a priority objective.

Medical Personnel

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) administrative, (b) managerial, (c) clerical and (d) other non-practicing medical personnel are employed in (i) the Department of Health, (ii) national health NDPBs, (iii) health trusts, (iv) PCTs and (v) hospitals.

John Hutton: Information available is shown in the tables.
	The national health service, the Department of Health and non-departmental public bodies have different definitions for management, administrative and clerical staff, they have been combined for comparison in the table 1 and are shown separately in table 2 for the NHS.
	Non-practising medical personnel are not separately identifiable within the non-medical workforce census.
	
		Table 1: NHS hospital and community health services (HCHS), Department of Health and health non-departmental public bodies: management, administrative and clerical staff employed in England
		
			  Headcount 
		
		
			 All managerial, administrative and clerical staff 219,220 
			 NHS Trusts 171,050 
			 Primary care trusts 14,750 
			 Health authorities 17,320 
			 Special health authorities and others 8,540 
			 Department of Health 4,820 
			 Health NDPBs 2,740 
		
	
	Notes:
	Figures rounded to nearest 10.
	Due to rounding totals may not equal the sum of component parts
	
		Table 2: NHS hospital and community health services (HCHS) management and administrative and clerical staff by organisation type—England as at September 2001 -- Headcount
		
			  All management and administrative staff Administrative managers All clerical and administrative staff(52) 
		
		
			 All NHS 211,650 27,420 184,230 
			 HAs 17,320 5,140 12,180 
			 Trusts 171,050 18,840 152,210 
			 PCTs 14,750 2,580 12,170 
			 SHAs and others 8,540 870 7,670 
		
	
	(52) Administration and clerical staff include: Ambulance service support, blood transfusion service, catering, community admin, community care, computing, domestic services, estates management and support, family planning, farms and gardens, finance, fire prevention/safety, general management/support services, health education, home wardens, hotel services, interpreters, laundry services, legal services, library services, linen services, management services, medical and dental support, medical records, medical secretaries, NHS research, nursing support, occupational health, operational research, P&T (other) support, AHP support, patient services, personnel, planning/contracting, public relations, S&P support, secretarial and typing, social work, statistics and information, stores, supplies, transport (inc. portering), voluntary help organiser.
	Notes:
	Figures are rounded to the nearest 10.
	Due to rounding totals may not equal the sum of component parts.
	Source:
	Department of Health 2001 non-medical workforce census.

Merseyside Regional Ambulance Service

Helen Southworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health why the remuneration package of the previous chief executive of Merseyside regional ambulance service, Mr. Todhunter, was not published in the MRAS 2001–02 annual report; and what his remuneration package was, including payments related to his termination of employment.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 27 November 2002
	The information pertaining to the former chief executive was not published because he refused his consent to publication. The following information was published in the trust's 2000–01 annual report:
	
		# thousand 
		
			 Chief Executive's Remuneration 2000–01 1999–00 
		
		
			 Basic remuneration 76 74 
			 Benefits 8 6 
			 Performance related bonuses 0 5 
			 Pension contributions 4 3 
			 Total 88 88 
		
	
	The Mersey regional ambulance service NHS trust chief executive, Mr. David Todhunter, resigned in May 2001. The trust has discharged its contractual responsibilities to Mr. Todhunter amounting to #42, 684. This payment relates to the financial year 2001–02.

Mixed-sex Wards

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how he measures the number of mixed-sex wards in NHS trusts; and how many mixed-sex wards there are in (a) each region and (b) England.

John Hutton: holding answer 12 December 2002
	The information requested is not available in this format, as the provision of single-sex accommodation is measured on a trust by trust basis and not at individual ward level.
	Most hospital wards generally care for both men and women. To provide the required levels of privacy and dignity for patients, wards are split into single sex bays or single rooms, or otherwise configured to provide gender segregation. It is the responsibility of each national health service trust to determine the most appropriate configuration to meet their specific requirements.

NHS Dentistry (Shropshire)

Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many dentists are accepting NHS patients in (a) Shrewsbury and Atcham and (b) Shropshire.

David Lammy: There is currently one general dental services practice in Shrewsbury and Atcham willing to accept children and some charge-exempt adults as new National Health Service patients. In Shropshire, including Telford and Wrekin, there are five practices willing to accept charge-exempt adults and children and four practices accepting children only.

NHS Direct

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much training is provided to those manning the call centre of NHS Direct.

David Lammy: holding answer 10 December 2002
	There has and continues to be a significant investment in staff development at NHS Direct.
	NHS Direct nurses must have a minimum of three years post registered qualifications before starting with NHS Direct. In addition, this will involve a period of four to six weeks' induction training followed by a period of on-line preceptorship.
	NHS Direct also is committed to on-going training and professional development. This involves an allocation for training each year of 21 days for nurses, 16 days for health information advisers and 11 days for call handlers.

NHS Professionals

Evan Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the cost to date of NHS Professionals.

John Hutton: The cost to date of NHS Professionals has been #4 million to support the start up in 2000–01, #3 million in 2001–02 and a further #2 million in 2002–03 to support roll out.
	It is expected that NHS Professionals will be self-funding in the longer term, but central funding has been provided to support start up and initial implementation of NHS Professionals as the primary provider of temporary healthcare professionals within the national health service.

NHS Professionals

Evan Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 10 December 2002, Official Report, column 303W, on NHS Professionals, whether the findings of the assessment team will be (a) published and (b) placed in the Library.

John Hutton: The assessment is part of the internal and on-going project management process for implementing NHS Professionals. The outcomes will be shared with those involved in implementing NHS Professionals, including strategic health authorities, work force development confederations and national health service employers.

NHS Staff

Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS (a) doctors and (b) nurses there were in each year since 1992.

John Hutton: The information requested is shown in the table.
	Between 1997 and 2001 the number of doctors, excluding general practitioner retainers, employed in the national health service increased by 9,550, or 10.7 per cent., from 89,620 to 99,170.
	Between September 1997 and 2001 the number of nurses employed in the NHS increased by 31,520, or 10 per cent., from 318,860 to 350,380. This compares to the decrease of nearly 5,000, or 1.5 per cent., between 1992 and 1997.
	
		NHS HCHS and general practice doctors and nurses in England, 1992–2001 -- Numbers (headcount)
		
			  1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 
		
		
			 All doctors excluding retainers(53) 79,230 80,740 81,320 84,460 86,580 
			   
			 Consultants 17,140 17,490 18,050 19,420 20,300 
			 of which:  
			 Hospital medical consultants 16,260 16,600 17,100 18,400 19,220 
			   
			 Registrar group 10,730 11,050 11,210 11,470 11,380 
			 of which:  
			 Hospital medical registrar group 10,080 10,370 10,570 10,820 10,840 
			 Other doctors in training 16,270 16,720 16,800 17,790 18,640 
			 of which:  
			 Hospital medical doctors in training 14,610 15,050 15,210 16,160 16,990 
			   
			 Hospital practitioners and clinical assistants(54) 7,770 7,440 6,900 7,130 6,740 
			 Other hospital medical staff 1,660 2,090 2,260 2,840 3,330 
			 Other medical and dental staff 5,250 4,940 4,270 4,080 3,820 
			 GMPs excluding retainers 28,180 28,460 28,740 28,870 29,120 
			 Unrestricted principals and equivalents 25,970 26,290 26,570 26,700 26,860 
			 Other practitioners(55) 600 640 720 760 960 
			 GP registrars 1,610 1,530 1,440 1,400 1,310 
			 GP retainers — — — — — 
			   
			 Qualified Nurses 323,800 319,320 313,240 316,890 319,150 
			 HCHS qualified nurses 307,160 301,810 296,740 298,650 301,250 
			 Practice nurses(56) 16,640 17,520 16,500 18,240 17,900 
		
	
	
		
			  1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 
		
		
			 All doctors excluding retainers(53) 89,620 91,840 93,980 96,320 99,170 
			   
			 Consultants 21,370 22,220 23,220 24,310 25,690 
			 of which:  
			 Hospital medical consultants 20,200 21,040 22,020 23,040 24,400 
			   
			 Registrar group 11,910 12,130 12,680 12,730 13,220 
			 of which:  
			 Hospital medical registrar group 11,360 11,590 12,100 12,160 12,650 
			   
			 Other doctors in training 19,550 19,840 19,950 20,270 20,690 
			 of which:  
			 Hospital medical doctors in training 17,920 18,200 18,320 18,690 19,070 
			   
			 Hospital practitioners and clinical assistants(54) 6,610 6,320 6,010 5,620 5,360 
			 Other hospital medical staff 3,780 4,500 5,100 5,860 6,360 
			 Other medical and dental staff 3,620 3,440 3,040 2,900 2,530 
			 GMPs excluding retainers 29,390 29,700 29,990 30,250 30,680 
			 Unrestricted principals and equivalents 27,100 27,390 27,590 27,700 27,840 
			 Other practitioners(55) 950 860 880 890 960 
			 GP registrars 1,340 1,450 1,520 1,660 1,880 
			 GP retainers — — 970 1,120 1,150 
			   
			 Qualified Nurses 318,860 323,460 329,640 335,950 350,380 
			 HCHS qualified nurses 300,470 304,560 310,140 316,750 330,540 
			 Practice nurses(56) 18,390 18,890 19,500 19,200 19,850 
		
	
	(53) GP Retainers were first counted in 1999.
	(54) Most of these doctors also work as GPs. To avoid double counting, medical hospital practitioners and medical clinical assistants are not included in the All Doctors total.
	(55) Other Practitioners include Assistants, Restricted Principals, Salaried Doctors (para. 52 SFA) and PMS Other GPs.
	(56) Practice nurse headcount information was estimated in 1992, 1993, 1998 and 1999. Underlying figures for 2000 suggest the practice nurse figure may be an overestimate.
	Sources:
	Department of Health medical and dental workforce census. Data as at 30 September each year.
	Department of Health general and personal medical services statistics. Data as at 1 October 1990–99 and 30 September 2000–01.
	Department of Health non-medical workforce census. Data as at 30 September each year.

Nurse Training

Oliver Letwin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people left early from courses leading to a nursing qualification in (a) 2000 and (b) 2001.

John Hutton: holding answer 25 November 2002
	1,503 students left early from courses leading to a nursing qualification between January and December 2000, the last complete year for which information is available. A further 400 students left early from courses between January and March 2001.

Overseas Nurse Advice Line

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department (a) has spent and (b) plans to spend next year in advertising the NHS overseas nurses advice line; and what form this advertising will take.

John Hutton: The national health service overseas nurses advice line has been advertised through various means, including a press launch in September which channelled information about the line to the NHS and the independent sector. Articles on the NHS overseas nurses advice line have also appeared in the nursing press and the Chief Nursing Officer has highlighted the advice line in bulletins and through quarterly briefing meetings with nursing directors and primary care trust lead nurses.
	A total of #2,273.62 has been spent this year on the production of cards publishing the advice line and these cards have been distributed by national organisations, including the Royal College of Nursing and Unison. In addition, the Philippine overseas employment administration also distributes the cards free of charge to their nurses and in the new year the Nursing and Midwifery Council will be issue cards to overseas representatives.
	A decision on the advertising budget has yet to be decided and this will be in light of the likely future demand.

Patient Deregistration

Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if his Department will ensure that GPs give written reasons why a patient is deregistered; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: Although there is currently no legal requirement for a general practitioner (GP) to give a written reason why a patient is deregistered, the General Medical Council's guidance, Good Medical Practice, says that GPs should as far as possible give reasons for the removal. The Department fully supports this advice and the rules and procedures which allow GPs to remove patients from their lists are being reviewed as part of the process for negotiating a new general medical services contract.

Personal Medical Services

Andy Burnham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place in the Library the contact details and objectives of the personal medical services pilot schemes in each primary care trust that were established from (a) April 2001, (b) October 2001, (c) April 2002 and (d) October 2002.

John Hutton: The information requested will be placed in the Library.

Port Medical Units

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people in the last 12 months who came to the UK and resided for more than six months (a) received and (b) did not receive a medical screening on arrival at port of entry.

Hazel Blears: Home Office statistics show that in 2001, the most recent year for which figures are available, 483,000 people subject to immigration control were granted leave at ports of entry in England to enter the United Kingdom for more than six months.
	Long-standing policy is that any person subject to immigration control who:
	(i) mentions health or medical treatment as a reason for coming to the United Kingdom, or appears unwell; or
	(ii) is seeking leave to enter the United Kingdom for six months or more and is at high risk of having been exposed to tuberculosis
	should be referred by the immigration officer to a medical inspector.
	Figures are not available on the number of people who meet one or both of the two criteria above, and statistics on the number of referrals to medical inspectors are not routinely collected from all ports of entry. However, four ports handled over 94 per cent. of entrants arriving in England in 2001 and seeking leave to enter the UK for six months or more. The health control units at those ports have provided the figures for referrals given in the table. In addition, for some visa nationals, medical referrals are made at the overseas post rather than the port of entry.
	
		
			 Port Entrants granted leave to enter for six months or more(57) Referrals to medical inspectors(58) 
		
		
			 Heathrow 343,000 141,072 
			 Gatwick 57,500 6,101 
			 Manchester 21,500 2,774 
			 Dover (including Channel Tunnel) 32,700 265 
			 Total for four ports 455,000 150,212 
		
	
	Note:
	(57) Data rounded to three significant figures.
	Sources:
	(58) Home Office.
	(59) Health Control Units (includes a small number of referrals where entry was refused).

Port Medical Units

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many medical staff were employed in each port medical unit in each of the last 10 years; and how many were (a) doctors and (b) nurses.

Hazel Blears: We do not routinely collect data on staff in medical units at all ports of entry in England. However, four ports handled over 94 per cent. of entrants arriving in England in 2001 and seeking leave to enter the United Kingdom for six months or more. The health control units at those ports have provided the figures in the table. These do not include figures for other support staff.
	
		
			Heathrow   Gatwick   Manchester   Dover  
			 Year Doctors Nurses Doctors Nurses Doctors Nurses Doctors Nurses 
		
		
			 2002 7.5 FTE 0 3.25 FTE 0 0.05 FTE and 3 GPs on call 0.2 FTE 2 FTE 2 FTE 
			 2001 7.5 FTE 0 3.25 FTE 0 0.05 FTE 0 2 FTE 0 
			 2000 7.5 FTE 0 3.75 FTE 0 0.05 FTE 0 2 FTE 0 
			 1999 7.5 FTE 0 3.75 FTE 0 0.05 FTE 2 FTE 2 FTE 0 
			 1998 7.5 FTE 0 2.75 FTE 0 0.01 FTE 2 FTE 2 FTE 0 
			 1997 7.5 FTE 0 2.75 FTE 0 0.01 FTE 2 FTE 2 FTE 0 
			 1996 7.5 FTE 0 2.75 FTE 0 0.01 FTE 3 FTE 2 FTE 0 
			 1995 7.5 FTE 0 2.75 FTE 0 0.01 FTE 3 FTE 2 FTE 0 
			 1994 7.5 FTE 0 2.75 FTE 0 0.01 FTE 4 FTE 2 FTE 0 
			 1993 7.5 FTE 0 2.75 FTE 0 0.01 FTE 4 FTE 2 FTE 0 
		
	
	Note:
	FTE—full time equivalents

Poultry Imports

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health who carries out tests for furazolidone in turkeys impounded at border inspection posts in the EU; whether such tests are conducted on all poultry imported from Brazil; how much such tests cost; how many birds for food were imported into this country from Brazil in each year since 1997; and how many tested positive for furazolidone.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 16 December 2002
	The Food Standards Agency set up a testing system for nitrofurans in poultry meat from Brazil. Staff at the border inspection posts are responsible for operation of the system. All consignments of poultry meat from Brazil must be analysed. The cost of the tests varies among the laboratories which carry out the testing. The cost per sample varies from #220 to #600. We have no information on how many birds have been imported each year from Brazil since 1997. Since the testing regime was introduced in October 2002, 192 consignments have been analysed and none have tested positive for furazolidone.

Prisons (Health Needs Assessment)

Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the prisons that have not completed a health needs assessment.

Jacqui Smith: All prisons have completed a health needs assessment, working with their local National Health Service partners.

Prosecutions (Contaminated Blood)

Dai Havard: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures he is taking to protect doctors in the UK from being prosecuted for prescribing contaminated blood.

Hazel Blears: The Consumer Protection Act 1987 was enacted by Parliament in compliance with the United Kingdom's obligations under the EU Product Liability Directive 85/374/EEC. The Act imposes strict liability on manufacturers. All blood and blood products issued to hospitals by the National Blood Service (NBS), are classed as falling within this Act. The NBS is therefore liable, not the doctor, should a patient develop a proven transfusion transmitted infection or any other adverse outcome that can be related to the quality of the blood or component transfused. Neither is the doctor liable if he prescribes any other licensed blood product not supplied by the NBS provided it is licensed for use in the UK.

School-age Workers

Chris Pond: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place in the Library a copy of each of the current LEA byelaws on the employment of school age children.

Jacqui Smith: Local authority byelaws are a matter of public record and anyone wishing to obtain a copy may do so from the authority concerned. It is not normal practice to include individual byelaws in the Library.

Secure Beds

Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) high secure beds, (b) medium secure beds, (c) low secure beds and (d) long-term secure beds there were in each year since 1997.

Jacqui Smith: The information requested is shown in the tables. The long-term secure bed numbers are included in these figures, but not separately identified in routine data collection.
	
		High secure beds
		
			 Year Number 
		
		
			 1997 1,374 
			 1998 1,366 
			 1999 1,320 
			 2000 1,290 
			 2001 1,263 
			 2002 1,244 
		
	
	
		Estimated number of medium and other secure beds(60)
		
			 Year Medium Other 
		
		
			 1997–98 1,493 986 
			 1998–99 1,642 1,032 
			 1999–2000 1,994 1,191 
			 2000–01 2,231 1,353 
			 2001–02 (61)— (61)— 
		
	
	(60) Bed numbers are calculated from health authority returns of occupied bed days and assuming a 95 per cent. occupancy rate.
	(61) Figures currently not available.

Specialist Register (Overseas Applicants)

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what level of scrutiny of training will apply to overseas applicants to join the UK specialist register.

John Hutton: All doctors applying to join the specialist register must meet certain standards. For doctors possessing a specialist qualification awarded overseas, the qualification must be equivalent to the United Kingdom qualification, in specialties for which the UK itself awards a qualification, or, for all other specialties, give the doctor the knowledge and skill consistent with practice as a consultant in that specialty in the national health service. These requirements are set by the European Specialist Medical Qualifications Order 1995.
	It is the job of the specialist training authority of the Medical Royal Colleges (STA) to assess whether these standards are met in individual cases. We are proposing to replace the STA with a new body, the postgraduate medical education and training board, under legislation we hope to bring before the House in the new year.

Surgical Specialties

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what plans he has to increase the number of additional funded Higher Surgical Training next year;
	(2)  what plans he has to increase the number of consultants in surgical specialities.

John Hutton: As at March 2002, there were 4,969 consultants within the surgical group, which represents an increase of 21 per cent. since September 1997. Current work force projections suggest that by March 2004, there may be sufficient trained specialists to increase numbers in the specialties by around 1,000 over a 2,000 baseline.
	In 2002–03, the surgical specialties were allocated 34 of the total number of centrally funded national training numbers. The combined ceiling posts were 316. This gives trusts considerable opportunity to fund extra posts themselves. The first round of bidding for ceiling posts suggests that locally funded surgical posts will be popular and that the ceiling is likely to be reached.
	We have agreed that 316 additional higher specialist surgical training opportunities, with central and local funding, should be made available to be taken up by March 2004. Additionally, we are identifying and encouraging suitable doctors on the specialist register, but not working as consultants to compete for posts, establishing more part-time and job share posts and improving retention through a flexible careers scheme and flexible retirement.

Thrombolysis

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of heart attack victims in (a) Wiltshire, (b) the south west and (c) England received thrombolysis within 30 minutes in the most recent period for which records are available.

Hazel Blears: According to data from the myocardial infarction national audit project for June to September 2002, the following percentage of eligible heart attack patients received thrombolysis within 30 minutes of hospital arrival:
	57 per cent. of patients in Avon Gloucestershire and Wiltshire Strategic Health Authority;
	61 per cent. of patients in the south west (Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire, Somerset and Dorset and South West Peninsula Strategic Health Authorities);
	63 per cent. of patients in England.
	This represents significant and steady progress since the publication of the national service framework for coronary heart disease in March 2000.

Woodside Adolescent Unit

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what the estimated total annual cost is of the new adolescent unit at Springfield hospital combined with the estimated annual cost of maintaining the replacement services under consultation for Surrey following the proposed closure of the Woodside Adolescent Unit; and what the current annual cost was of the Woodside unit in the last 12 months;
	(2)  what discussions Surrey Oaklands initiated with the NHS in London about the closure of the Woodside Adolescent Unit;
	(3)  what the clinical reason was for the decision to transfer adolescent services from the Woodside Adolescent Unit to a new unit at Springfield hospital.

Hazel Blears: In order to meet the needs of the local population, clinicians and commissioners in South West London felt that a local unit was needed with outreach provision, intensive care facilities, treatment available seven days a week and an ability to take emergency admissions where clinically indicated. This would better provide accessible specialist services to adolescents with mental health problems.
	The new adolescent unit at Springfield hospital is estimated to cost #1.7 million, and will include the development of an outreach service to offer intensive pre and post-admission support to adolescents. Precise costs of proposed replacement services for Surrey will be available after the public consultation, depending on the outcome. However, East Surrey Primary Care Trust (PCT) is committed to maintaining the same level of funding as currently exists at #462,000. The annual cost of the Woodside unit is approximately #1.06 million, but other placements are made in both the national health service and the private sector, and costs vary according to the particular needs of the adolescent and the particular placement.
	There have been regular quarterly meetings over the past three years, chaired by East Surrey Health Authority (HA) initially, and involving Merton Sutton and Wandsworth HA, South West London region. Surrey Oaklands formally declared its intention in March 2002 to close the unit in September 2002, but in July 2002, notified the South West Strategic HA that the closure had been deferred to allow more time for the service to be reconfigured.
	All parties are fully aware of the impact that the withdrawal of South West London's funds would have on Woodside. Meetings are still held and are now chaired by East Surrey PCT, with the involvement of Wandsworth PCT and other stakeholders.